For those who don't really get what it's all about, here are some quick facts to help you understand why it's tradition to go a little wild in Scotland on the 25th January…
Robert Burns was one of Scotland's most famous poets. He was born 25th January 1759 and every year a night of celebrating is held in his honour on the day of his birth.
The Scotsman died in 1796 aged 37, and the first ever celebration was held by his friends in 1801. The traditional Scottish conventions of this first ever gathering have stuck firmly over the past two centuries! Haggis is eaten as part of Burns Supper, toasts are made, whisky is drunk and songs are sung as a way of honouring the poet, his words and his ideas.
Robert Burns was responsible for a number of works that are still very famous and very much loved today. Often on Burns Night his works will be recited, and a particular favourite is Auld Lang Syne.
But why was he such a big part of Scottish culture?
Burns lived between 1759 and 1796 and started writing poems and songs while he was still a teenager. His works would prove to become hugely influential, not only towards the Romantic movement that followed among poets of the 19th century, but also towards Scottish liberalism. The ideas that his works encouraged would see him became a national icon of Scotland, and celebrating his life every year has, in turn, become an unofficial national day.
Has anyone got celebrations planned this Burns Night? If so we'd love to hear about them!
Today Burns has more than 600 living descendants! Could you be one of them?
