Burns’ Night Story

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Robert Burns remains Scotland’s pre-eminent poet and on January 25 millions of people around the world will celebrate Burns Night to mark the anniversary of his birth.

Burns Night has been celebrated for over two centuries. But, you may ask, why has the Burns Night story endured so long and for so long?

One answer is, of course, your writing.

John Steinbeck took the title of his 1937 novel, Of Mice and Men, from a poem by Burns.

And folk legend Bob Dylan singled out Burns’ 1794 song, A Red Red Rose, as the lyric that had the greatest effect on his life.

Even in Russia, Burns was voted the “people’s poet” and a 1924 translation of his works sold more than 600,000 copies. His poetry is still taught in Russian schools.

For another answer, look no further than New Year’s Eve.

“And we’ll have a cup of kindness yet, by auld lang syne…” – from Auld Lang Syne by Robert Burns

Burns is best known as the author of Auld Lange Syne, the song used to greet the New Year by English speakers around the world.

The song is a true anthem, containing a universal truth: the past is gone forever, but it must never be forgotten.

Auld Lang Syne’s underlying theme of making the harsh realities of life more enjoyable through the company of good friends and a good drink is quintessentially Scottish.

And it would have been this theme that a select group of Burns’s friends had in mind when they held the first Burns Supper in 1801, five years after his death.

Celebrating his friend’s passing in such a way was noble and moving, especially considering his tragic and horrifying death.

“A disease that has haunted me for a long time… will quickly send me beyond that place from which no traveler returns… Goodbye!” – a letter written by Burns in his last days

Burns’ death is understood to have been caused by a chronic heart ailment.

Unfortunately, his end was compounded by a 19th century misdiagnosis.

Mistaking his condition for gout, Burns’ personal physician advised his patient to travel to Brow Well, a mineral spring near Dumfries in Scotland.

There, the treatments, which included drinking and bathing in the cold, foul-tasting spring waters, only worsened Burns’ condition.

As his health deteriorated, he began to age prematurely and fell into fits of discouragement, with only his battered Bible for comfort.

Four days after leaving Brow Well, Burns died aged 37.

“Fair for your honest son’s face, great chief of the pudding race!” – a line from Burns’s Ode to Haggis

In its early years, Burns Night was celebrated on the date of the poet’s death: July 21, 1796.

However, as Robert Burns became a recognized Scottish institution and Burns Night became a national pastime, the celebration was moved to his birthday – January 25, 1759.

Burns Night itself, and Burns Supper, includes several established traditions.

These included eating haggis, originally Burns’s friends’ tribute to his famous Ode to Haggis, along with neeps and tatties, to complement the spiciness of the haggis.

Traditionally, the Burns Supper is held with everyone seated around a table. After saying a few words of welcome to all, the grace is usually said, usually the Selkirk Grace.

“Some have meat and cannot eat, and some eat who want it; but we have meat, and can eat, give thanks to the Lord…” – by Selkirk Grace

The Selkirk Grace, so named because Burns is said to have delivered it at a dinner given by the Earl of Selkirk, precedes a bowl of soup.

Later, when the tables are cleared after the meal, The Loyal Toast is proposed by the host, often in honor of the Head of State (for example, the Queen in the UK).

Then comes Immortal Memory, a short, lively speech about Robert Burns himself. With tributes to Burns’ life and work, it ends with a toast to his immortal memory.

Aside from the enduring popularity of the Burns night, several recent memorabilia sales, both at auction and in the private market, have shown that the Burns legacy is immortal as well.

Last year, after not having been seen in public since 1896, one of Burns’ most important pieces of memorabilia turned up on the private market.

The famous Burns Bible, clutched by the poet in Brow Well as his main consolation during his final days, was recently sold by Paul Fraser Collectibles for £25,000 ($41,250).

And, in early 2009, a retired professor became the new patron of Burns’ best-known creation: the original Auld Lang Syne manuscript.

The manuscript “sold” at auction for £10,000 to Professor David Purdie. Purdie will remain the custodian of Auld Lang Syne while it is held at the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum in Ayrshire, Scotland.

Elsewhere in the collectors markets, the renowned Macallan distillery has launched a new whiskey marking the 250th anniversary of Burns’s birth.

Limited to just 250 bottles, from two casks chosen by The Macallan’s whiskey maker Bob Dalgarno, one from 1997 and one from 1998, each bearing the number 1759, Burns’ date of birth.

The whiskey is rare: a sherry-oak expression with an ABV of 46%, according to Whiskey Intelligence. It is sold in a specially designed jar.

In England, Burns has been honored on postage stamps three times and is now portrayed on the reverse of the £5 coin.

Meanwhile, in his homeland of Scotland, he is depicted on the Clydesdale Bank £5 note.

And, in addition to these memories, there remains Burns Night: it is still celebrated each year by native Scots and expats from all over the world.

As Burns’ literary legacy and message live on, to remember our common humanity, the celebrations of his life and work will continue.

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