Such a parcel of rogues in a nation…
Scotland’s been in the news a lot in the last few days but the 25th of January is when Scots at home and all over the world take and evening to celebrate their “National Bard” Robert (or Rabbie) Burns.
He’s quite a conundrum: born into a poor family in Ayrshire in rural Scotland with little formal education, he and his poems became the darling of Edinburgh society and the ordinary man in the bar or the field as well as influencing the work of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Shelley.
In modern times Burns is hugely popular in Russia acclaimed as a “people’s poet” and his work has been an inspiration to people as diverse as Mohammed Ali, Mya Angelou and Bob Dylan.
The main celebration of Burns will take place at Burns Suppers all over the world where whisky will be drunk, clever speeches will be made, Burns’ poems and songs will be recited and played and haggis will be addressed in fine style ( click here for the words and a handy translation ) and then eaten with great gusto.
So whether your tastes run to the romance of “My Love is Like a Red Red Rose” or the egalitarianism of “A Man’s a Man for a’ That” Burns will have a poem or a song that will suit you.
If you fancy going along to one of these gatherings we’ve picked out some of the best.
London
Go the whole hog at Boisdale in Canary Wharf or Bishopsgate complete with a piper in full regalia.
You could even join the Burns Club of London and enjoy events through the year
If a full on Burns supper is too much to consider then visit Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant Narrow on the 25th of Jan for their Scottish inspired menu
Edinburgh
Enjoy a night with Storytellers at The Tass
Have a fabulous evening and contribute to a great cause at The Prestonfield House Hotel
Glasgow
Have a Dinner a Dinner, a Drama and a Dram with Rabbie Burns at the brilliant Oran Mor
Rub shoulders with the great and the good at The Lord Provosts Burns Supper at the Hilton Hotel
You can of course treat yourself to a haggis and have a feast at home. Whatever you choose to do have a great time… Rabbie always did!
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