A Scottish Birthday
Date: Saturday 25th January 2025
Time: 11.30am to 12pm
Location: Robert Burns' Statue, Embankment Gardens
Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796), was a Scottish poet and lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland and is celebrated worldwide. He is the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots Language, although much of his writing is in a "light Scots dialect" of English, accessible to an audience beyond Scotland. He also wrote in standard English, and in these writings his political or civil commentary is often at its bluntest. He is considered to be a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world. Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature.
This event is held to celebrate what would have been Robert Burns' 266th birthday, and the date is commonly referred to as Burns Night. Burns Night is a time to enjoy Scottish traditions and celebrate the renowned poet Robert Burns with a classic combination of haggis, neeps, tatties, some reciting of poetry, and maybe even a warming dram. It's also an opportunity to celebrate Scotland's enduring legacy of creativity.