Robert Burns facts and poems and how to celebrate Burns Night with quotes and music
On Burns Night you might be inclined to stock up on haggis and start writing odes to your favourite offal-based food.
There are plenty of ways to celebrate the day, however, and you don’t even need to eat intestines to do so.
Robert Burns was an incredible Scottish poet whose work continues to be relevant to this die.
Poems such as A Red, Red Rose and To a Mouse deal with themes that we can all relate to despite being written in old Scots, and are read out today across the world.
If you want to celebrate by knowing everything from where Robert Burns lived, to how to pronounce ‘wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie’ we’ve got you covered.
Facts about the Ayrshire Bard
He was born 25 January 1759 and died in Dumfries age 37.
His last name was originally spelled Burnes.
Robert was the father of 12 children, nine to his wife Jean Armour.
Burns penned his first poem at the age of 15.
He planned on moving to Jamaica before his poetry became successful.
Rabbie had big opinions on the French Revolution, and was on the side of reform.
You can visit his body at the Burns Mausoleum in St Michael’s Churchyard, Dumfries.
There are more statues, monuments and memorials dedicated to Robert Burns than any other non-religious figure, after Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus.
Robert Burns was voted The Greatest Scot by STV viewers in 2009.
The first Burns supper was held in July 1801 when nine of Burns’ close friends got together to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death.
How to celebrate Burns night
Most people celebrate burns night with a Burns supper, including haggis, neeps, and tatties.
A dram of whisky (or two, or three) is also commonplace.
Some people attend ceilidhs and take part in traditional Scottish dancing – even sometimes wearing kilts and other traditional garments.
Readings are also held in schools and at parties, with prizes for the most impassioned renditions of Burns’ work.
Robert Burns quotes and poem extracts
1) I pick my favourite quotations and store them in my mind as ready armour,
offensive or defensive,
amid the struggle of this turbulent existence.
2) As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
3) Ae fond kiss, and then we sever;
Ae farewell, alas, forever!
4) But to see her was to love her,
love but her, and love her forever.
5) Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name, give an ear,
Ye Jacobites by name,
Your fautes I will proclaim,
Your doctrines I maun blame, you shall hear.
6) Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious,
O’er a’ the ills o’ life victorious.
7) A Man’s a Man for a’ that.
8) The best laid schemes o’ mice and men
Gang aft a-gley.
9) Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murd’ring pattle!
10) Here lies, now a prey to insulting neglect,
What once was a butterfly, gay in life’s beam:
Want only of wisdom denied her respect,
Want only of goodness denied her esteem.
11) For gold the merchant ploughs the main,
The farmer ploughs the manor;
But glory is the sodger’s prize,
The sodgerpppp’s wealth is honor:
The brave poor sodger ne’er despise,
Nor count him as a stranger;
Remember he’s his country’s stay,
In day and hour of danger.
12) Dare to be honest and fear no labour.
13) Know, prudent, cautious, self-control Is wisdom’s root.
14) Suspense is worse than disappointment.
15) Liberty’s in every blow! Let us do or dee.
16) Oh would some power the gift give us, to see ourselves as others see us!
17) Now’s the day and now’s the hour.
18) My heart ‘s in the Highlands, my heart is not here; My heart ‘s in the Highlands a-chasing the deer.
19) Life is but a day at most.
20) The honest man, though e’er sae poor, Is king o’ men, for a’ that!
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