Burns Night, A Scottish Tradition

In medieval Celtic cultures a “Bard” was a professional story teller, verse-maker, music composer, and oral historian, and has now become synonymous with great poets. Few are as celebrated as Scotland’s own “National Bard”, Robert Burns. On January 25th each year, now know as Burns Night, tribute is paid to this renowned poet.

Burns night is time to enjoy Scottish traditions and celebrate Robert Burns with reciting of poetry, haggis, neeps and tatties, and even a dram of whiskey. Scotland has an enduring legacy of creativity which shines through on Burns Night.

To celebrate this day here is Robert Burns’ poem, “A Red, Red Rose.”

O my Luve's like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June:
O my Luve's like the melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi' the sun;
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o' life shall run.

And fare-thee-weel, my only Luve!
And fare-thee-weel, a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho' 'twere ten thousand mile!