Commonly known as “Robbie” (“Rabbie” in Scotland), Burns was born in 1759 to a poor family in Alloway, Ayr, Scotland. He received his childhood education while working on the family farm (Burns’ father hired a local teacher) and demonstrated exceptional writing talent from an early age.
Burns’ literary fame began at the age of 27, when his first book of poetry, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (“The Kilmarnock Edition”) was published.
Burns also wrote original music and collected and adapted folk songs from across Scotland. His poem and song “Auld Lang Syne” is sung world-wide to issue in a new year.
Other well-known poems and songs include “A Red, Red Rose”, “A Man’s a Man for A’ That”, “To a Louse”, “To a Mouse”, “The Battle of Sherramuir”, “Tam o’ Shanter”, and “Ae Fond Kiss”.
Because of his political views (Burns was sympathetic to the French Revolution and a supporter of democratic reform at home), he became a great source of inspiration after his death to the founders of both liberalism and socialism.
Burns, who had a heart condition, died at the age of 37 following a dental extraction.
One of the most celebrated figures in Scottish history and culture, Burns’ birthday is recognized with annual “Burns Night” celebrations held across Scotland and around the world.
12 interesting facts about Robbie Burns
1. He produced a lot more than poetry.
By the time he died at the age of 37, Burns had sired 12 children by four different women. His oldest child Elizabeth was born after he had an affair with his mother’s servant. His youngest child Maxwell was born on the day of Burns’ funeral.
2. He’s a monumental figure.
Burns has more statues dedicated to him around the world than any other non-religious figure, other than Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus.
Burns was planning to emigrate to Jamaica to work on a slave plantation, but he changed his mind because of the successful sales of his first book of poetry.
4. He wrote the third most popular song in the world.
Burns’ iconic song “Auld Lang Syne” is one of the three most popular English language songs, after “Happy Birthday” and “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow.”
5. He had a big head — literally.
When Burns’ body was exhumed in 1815 to be moved to a new mausoleum, a plaster cast was taken of his skull and he was found to have a larger-than-average skull. In 2013, forensic experts at the University of Dundee used the cast along with contemporary portraits to recreate an accurate 3D depiction of his head.
6. Bob Dylan is a big fan.
When asked about the source of his greatest creative inspiration, Bob Dylan said it was Burns’ 1794 song “A Red, Red Rose.”
7. Michael Jackson was a big fan.
Michael Jackson was such a fan of Burns’ poetry that he recorded a collection of show tunes with American producer David Gest based on Burn’s life and work (they were never formally released0.
8. The Soviet Union was a big fan.
The former Soviet Union commissioned a commemorative stamp of Robbie Burns in 1956 to mark the 160th anniversary of his death.
9. His work inspired the names of two literary classics.
The titles of J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye and John Stienbeck’s Of Mice and Men come from Burn’s poems (“Comin Thro the Rye” and “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley” from “To a Mouse”).
10. He’s a pop icon.
In 2009, Burns was the first person ever to appear on a commemorative bottle of Coca-Cola.
11. He’s been in space — figuratively.
In 2010, astronaut Nick Patrick took a miniature book of Robert Burns’ poetry into space for a two-week mission.
12. Your clothes may have been designed by one of his descendants.
Fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger is the great, great, great nephew of Robert Burns (Hilfiger’s aunt Rose Kirbis was the granddaughter of Burns’ brother Gilbert).
Robbie Burns Celebrations in the Kawarthas
Here are some of the Robbie Burns events taking place in the Kawarthas in and around Robbie Burns Day, ranging from modest celebrations to full-blown Burns Nights that include traditional elements like haggis.
Saturday, January 24
- All the “Kitchen Party Music Jams” will be celebrating Robbie Burns Day on Saturday. The music jams take place from 1 – 4 p.m. at the following locations in the Kawarthas: Bobcaygeon Inn (31 Main St., Bobcaygeon), Pattie House Smokin’ Barbecue (6675 Highway 35, Coboconk), Jake’s Bar and Eatery (34 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay), and Dominion Hotel (113 Main St., Minden).
- SOLD OUT – Westben Arts Festival Theatre presents Robbie Burns Night at 4 p.m. in Campbellford. A fundraiser for Westben featuring a scotch tasting, Piping in the Haggis, Address to the Haggis, Selkirk Grace, traditional Scottish dinner, The Immortal Bard, Poetry Reading, and Songs of Robbie Burns. The event takes place at the Bennett-Finley Farm House (6688 County Road 30, Campbellford). Cost: $100 per person ($50 ticket and $50 donation with tax receipt).
- Robbie Burns Night Dinner and Dance at 5:30 p.m. at Port Hope Masonic Temple (54 Toronto Rd., Port Hope, L1A 3R9). A traditional Robbie Burns dinner provided by OES Catering with a Robbie Burns memorial and featuring bagpipes by the Ontario District Pipers and highland dancing with the Pine Ridge Highland Dancers, followed by a dance with live music by Garage Dog. Cocktail hour begins at 5:30 p.m. Cash bar. Cost: $35 in advance. For more information and tickets, call 905-885-2758 or email events@masonhall.ca.
- Robbie Burns Dinner at 6 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 624 (1007 Burleigh Rd., Wilberforce, K0L 3C0). Refreshments at 6 p.m. and, dinner at 6:30 p.m. followed by entertainment. Cost: $15 per person.
- SOLD OUT – Robbie Burns Night at 6 p.m. at The Cat and Fiddle Lindsay (49 William St. N., Lindsay, K9V 3Z9). Join in the celebration with The Pipes & Drums of Lindsay, Highland Dancers and Traditional Scottish Gay Gordon Dancing. The night also includes traditional haggis dinner of Cock-a-leekie soup, Haggis, Roast Beef, Mashed Potato & Turnip followed by Cranachan Trifle. Cost: $20 plus tax. For more information, visit www.catandfiddle.com or call 705-878-4312.
Sunday, January 25
- Robbie Burns Night with Catfish Willie and The Buckle Busters from 3 – 6 p.m. at Black Horse Pub (452 George St. N., Peterborough, K9H 3R7). Come out for the Hillbilly and stay for the Haggis. For more information visit www.blackhorsepub.ca.
- Burns Night at 6 p.m. at Canoe & Paddle Pub (18 Bridge Street, Lakefield, K0L 2H0). Get your tartan on for some traditional Scottish revelry, including be piping in the haggis, addressing the haggis, toasting the lassies and the laddies, saying the Selkirk Grace, eating some traditional scottish fayre, reciting from the man himself and doing the highland fling. The haggis will be piped in at 6.30 p.m., so arrive by 6 p.m. to order food (limited quantities of haggis, tatties and neep and cullen skink, so first come first served). Food will be served after the haggis is toasted. For more information visit www.facebook.com/Canoeandpaddle.
- Haliburton Highlanders Pipes & Drums presents Robbie Burns Night & Buffet from 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion Branch 129 – Haliburton (719 Mountain St., Haliburton, K0M 1S0). Featuring the Haliburton Highlanders Pipes & Drums. Doors open at 6.30 p.m. and entertainment begins at 7 p.m. Cost: $10 at the door. For more information visit www.facebook.com/events/1665770980316911/.
Tuesday, January 27
- Robbie Burns Day Celebration from 5 – 7 p.m. at Activity Haven (180 Barnardo Ave, Peterborough, K9H 5V4). Come out for a menu of tatties and mince, mashed turnip and peas, soda bread, and 40th anniversary cake. The entertainment for the night will be bagpiper Reece Muir, who will pipe in the Activity Haven Banner. Open to the community. Cost: $10 per person. For more information, call 705-876-1670.
Saturday, January 31
- Robert Burns Dinner and Ceilidh from 5:30 – 10 p.m. at Royal Canadian Legion in Cobourg (136 Orr St., Cobourg, K9A 2S1). Enjoy a roast beef dinner with Haggis. Entertainment by the Macklin Academy of Highland Dance and the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums with a silent auction and open mic. All proceeds to support the Cobourg Highland Games and the Cobourg Legion Pipes and Drums. Cost: $40/person, children 5-10 $20 each. For more information, visit www.cobourghighlandgames.ca.
Want to host your own Burns Supper?
Here’s a typical run-through and description of what is involved in a Burns Supper, courtesy of Scotland’s national tourism organization (VisitScotland).
Piping in the top table
At formal gatherings, it is traditional for the top table guests to be piped in. However, at a smaller and less formal gathering, you can play some Scottish music, traditional bagpipe music or your favourite contemporary Scottish band, and clap along to welcome your guests.
Welcome
The selected Chairman or Speaker acts as Master of Ceremonies for the evening and welcomes the guests — the host of an informal evening usually takes this role.
The Chairman introduces the top table and any other speakers and entertainers before reciting the Selkirk Grace: “Some hae meat and canna eat, And some would eat that want it, But we hae meat, and we can eat, Sae let the Lord be thankit.”
Piping in the haggis
The haggis is the crowning glory of a Burns Supper and, suitably, is piped in to an upstanding audience. Traditionally, the chef carries the haggis in on a silver platter behind the piper and is followed by the person who will address the haggis.
The address to the haggis
The appointed speaker gives a dramatic rendition of Burns’ “Address to a Haggis” with a knife at the ready. After apologizing for “killing” the haggis, the speaker then plunges the knife into the haggis and slices it open during the line “An’ cut you up wi’ ready slight” (meaning “and cut you up with skill”). The recital ends with the platter being raised above the speaker’s head while saying the triumphant words “Gie her a Haggis!” to rapturous applause.
Toast to the haggis
The speaker then invites the guests to toast the haggis and everyone, including the chef, raises their glasses and shouts “The Haggis” before enjoying a dram. The haggis is then piped back out to be prepared for dinner.
The meal
Spicy haggis, meat or vegetarian, is traditionally served with buttery mashed neeps and tatties (turnip and potato) and sometimes a whiskey cream sauce.
First entertainer
The Chairman introduces the first entertainer who then performs one of Burns’ songs or poems such as “A Red, Red Rose” or “Tam O’ Shanter”.
The immortal memory
The main speaker is introduced and gives an enthralling account of Burns’ life. His literary prowess, politics, nationalistic pride in Scotland, faults,and humour should all be explored to give the audience an insight into Burns’ life and works in a witty, yet serious way. The speaker concludes with an invitation to join in a heart-felt toast: “To the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns”.
Second entertainer
More celebration of Burns with singing or a recital.
Toast to the lassies
A humorous speech written for the evening that gently ridicules the (few) shortcomings of women that aims to amuse both sides of the audience — “observations” therefore should not be too cutting! Despite the initial mockery, the speech ends on a positive note, with the speaker asking the men to raise their glasses in a toast “to the lassies”.
Third entertainer
More songs, recitals, and music.
Reply to the toast to the lassies
The chance for a female speaker to retort with some good-natured jokes of her own, beginning with a sarcastic thanks on behalf of the women present for the previous speaker’s “kind” words, before giving a lively response highlighting the foibles of the male race, using reference to Burns and the women in his life. Again, this speech finishes on a positive note.
Final entertainer
The last entertainer bravely faces a merry crowd for some final songs and readings.
Vote of thanks
A vote of thanks is made to everyone who has made the evening such a roaring success, from the chef and speakers to the guests.
Auld Sang Syne
A Burns Supper traditionally ends with the singing of Burns’ famous song about parting, “Auld Lang Syne”. Everyone joins hands in a large circle and sings the words together and, at the line “And here’s a hand”, you cross each of your hands over to rejoin those standing on either side of you.
