Today is Robert Burns Day!
--
Who the heck is Robert Burns?
Today is January 25th in Scotland. Well everywhere in fact. But not every country has the opportunity to celebrate the life and times of a famous poet and lyricist.
Scottish people all over the world are celebrating the life and cultural legacy some 263 years later of Robert Burns.
Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns was born on this day in 1759. He is also known by the National Bard, Bard of Ayrshire, the Ploughman Poet and various other names and epithets.
Some of his famous poems are: A Red, Red, Rose, Tam O’ Shanter and the famous Address to a Haggis.
The annual tradition of a celebratory dinner started 5 years after his death. A bunch of his devoted friends made the decision to host a dinner in honor of their good friend. This annual tradition spread like wild fire and it is more widely celebrated than St. Andrew’s Day, Scotland’s Official National Observance.
The night involves plenty of speeches, Burns Poetry and recitals. And of course numerous toasts with drams of Scotland’s finest golden elixir.
The highlight of the feast is the serving of the haggis. This is at traditional Scottish pudding made of the liver, heart and lungs of a sheep mixed with onion, oatmeal, suet, salt and spices. All of which have been cooked in a the stomach of a sheep. All of this amidst the sound of bagpipes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpZiPZwwXhM
It would be historically correct to consume a Scotch whiskey, ideally single malt and Sherry cask matured.
Robert Burns Day is a cause for celebration around the world. It also seems like a great opportunity to just have a lot of fun and listen to some great poetry.
