Robert Burns' birthday

Robert Burns

The birthday of the famous poet Robert Burns (1759 - 1796) is a national holiday in Scotland, the poet's homeland. Scots are very proud of their famous compatriot and honor his memory.

The birthday of Robert Burns is celebrated in the form of a dinner (the so-called Burns Supper), held according to a certain scenario. First - a small stage action, with poems, songs and folk dances. In Scotland, Burns is revered as a symbol of the nation, and therefore the poet's birthday - one of the most beloved holidays in the country of the hills - is celebrated widely and noisily.

On this day, the Scots national costume comes from the wardrobe. The kilt and the pattern of fabric - Scottish - is transmitted only along the family line and determines belonging to a particular clan. Clans have their origins in ancient times, when only Highlanders (Scots living in the mountains, not on the plain) were divided into clan families. Clan membership is still an important characteristic of the Scottish family.

The Burns Day feast consists exclusively of Scottish cuisine. Hagis was traditionally prepared from finely chopped lamb liver with the addition of oatmeal and spices. Together with hagis, boiled potatoes and turnips are served on the festive table. For dessert, a knowledgeable hostess will prepare kranichen - whipped cream with raspberries and toasted oatmeal, slightly resembling the taste of Yakut kerchakh. And, of course, on the table on this day - the famous Scotch whiskey.

Burns was born into a farmer's family. In high school, Robert began writing down his first poems. He wrote only about what he experienced and felt himself - joy and sorrow, love for women, devotion to the homeland. Burns’ youth was spent in need and hard work and, as it usually happens, awakened love in him. He had a turbulent personal life full of romances. Its themes are love, freedom, Scottish nature and history. For him, the Scottish language was not a dying dialect, but an exquisite poetic instrument. Poetry fascinates with its simplicity, playfulness and amazing musicality.

Old Scottish folk poetry influenced Burns. He collected lyrics and melodies, supplemented them with verses of his own composition, lost or obscene - replaced his own. It is often impossible to determine where the vernacular texts are and where the Burns texts are. In Scotland, there are many monuments to the beloved national poet. There are even monuments with a mountain daisy sung by Burns, taken by a plow, and a field mouse, whose nest was ravaged by a poet-plowman.

Burns is praised as a romantic poet, but his poems and ballads reflect the practical sanity of the peasants he grew up with. The work of Burns marked the flowering of Scottish poetry - lyrical, earthly, satirical, sometimes mischievous.

And there is not a single Scottish house that does not have a Burns and Burns book on its shelves without his portrait hanging. Especially among Scots, Burns' poem "My Heart's in the Highlands" is popular, which is full of love for Scotland - the poet's homeland.

In the mountains my heart... I'm still there.
On the trail of the deer, I fly over the rocks,
I chase the deer, I scare the goat,
My heart is in the mountains and I am down.
Goodbye, my country! North, goodbye-
The land of glory and valor.
By the white light of fate,
I will forever be your son!

The holiday is held not only in Scotland, but also in many areas of Britain.