Burns Night is held every year on January 25 to commemorate Robert Burns, who died on the date in 1759. He is most famous for writing Auld Lang Syne, a popular number sung by many on New Year’s Eve.
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There is no official Burns Night greeting but it’s common to say “Sláinte Mhath!” to one another, which translates as “Good Health!” and is pronounced “slanj’-uh va’”.
If you want to wish someone a “Happy Burns Night” in Scottish Gaelic, then you can say “Oidhche Bhlas Burns”.
As well as Auld Lang Syne, Robert Burns – also known as the Ploughman Poet – is best known for his poems A Red, Red Rose and Tam O’Shanter.
His funny ode to Scottish delicacy, Address To A Haggis, is also one of his popular compositions.
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Burns Night was incorporated into the Scottish calendar in 1801.
It’s common for people to attend Burns Night suppers to celebrate the Scottish poet.
On the agenda at the dinners are lots of haggis, drinking and the giving of thanks.
During these, people traditionally say a prayer attributed to Burns entitled Selkirk Grace.
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Robert Burns statue stands in Dunedin city centre, Otago, New Zealand (Image: Getty)
The thanksgiving address is usually said just before the meal starts and goes:
Some hae meat, and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat -
And sae the Lord be thankit.
O Thou who kindly dost provide For every creature’s want!
We bless Thee, God of Nature wide,
For all thy goodness lent.
And, if it please Thee, heavenly Guide,
May never worse be sent;
But, whether granted or denied,
Lord bless us with content.
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After the prayer, a first course of Scottish soup is served.
This is followed by haggis for the main course, which brought out while bagpipes are played.
At the end of the meal a recital of Burns’ Immortal Memory is performed.
After the recital comes the Toast to the Lassies - a humorous view on women read by a man, which is then followed by the female retort in Reply to the Laddies.
The evening is then rounded off by giving thanks and singing Auld Lang Syne.
