Burns Night is a celebration of the life and legacy of Robert Burns, a great Scottish poet. Originally, the first Burns Supper was held on 21st July 1801 by some of Robert Burns’ closest friends, toasting the fifth anniversary of his death. Two years later, they decided to celebrate his birthday instead and we now address the haggis on the 25th of January. His legacy still lives on strong and this year sees us celebrate what would have been the 260th birthday of Robert Burns.
The main attraction of Burns Night is the iconic Burns Supper. Traditionally, a Burns supper centres around celebrating the works of Robert Burns with a hearty feast. The evening kicks off with a recital of his well-known poem “Address to a Haggis,” where he describes the humble haggis as the “great chieftain o’ the puddin- ‘race”. Haggis is then served with a classic side of ‘neeps’ and ‘tatties’ and washed down with single malt whisky – another of Scotland’s most famous exports. The evening tends to culminate in a chorus of one of his most famous works “Auld Lang Syne.”
A nod to his popularity, Burns Suppers are held across the globe, and the 25th of January is effectively considered as the second national day of Scotland. If you are based in Canada or Singapore then don’t forget Macsween haggis is now available at local retailers for your Burns Supper! Find your nearest stockist here.
If you’re planning on hosting your own Burns Supper this year, you can find our Burns Night guide here. We’d love to see how you celebrate so don’t forget to tag @macsweenhaggis in your posts. Slàinte!