A beginner’s guide to Burns Night

Robert Burns (1759 - 1796). Picture: Hulton Archive/Getty Images


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Why is haggis so popular? What on earth are neeps and tatties? And just who is the “great chieftain o’ the pudding-race?” Unravel the mysteries of January 25 with our guide to Burns Night, Scotland’s unofficial national day

Burns Night is celebrated on January 25 every year, and is widely considered to be Scotland’s second national day alongside St Andrews Day. It celebrates Scotland’s most famous and revered national poet, Robert Burns, whose most best-known works form part of the fabric of Scottish life.

About Robert Burns

Robert Burns (1759-1796) was born in Alloway, near the town of Ayr. Born into a farming family struggling to eke out a living, Burns’ early life was hardly prosperous, but he was nevertheless given a reasonable education by his parents William and Agnes. His love for literature and song soon became apparent as he sought respite from the daily toil of the family farm, while also growing fond of alcohol and the opposite sex.

Despite fathering twins with wife Jean Armour, he nearly emigrated to the West Indies, only changing his mind when his poetry became recognised by his contemporaries in Scotland. It was shortly after this period that Burns had already published some of his most famous works, including To a Louse and Highland Mary. A move to Edinburgh saw him accelerate his creative output at the same speed as his growing fondness for illicit romantic liaisons and late nights at the bar.

A move to Dumfries followed in 1789 where he became an excise officer and rekindled his relationship with Jean Armour. His failing health, brought on by alcoholism and the after-effects of long periods of physical labour in early life, contributed to his death at the age of 37. By the time of his death, the poet’s works were already widely read and celebrated, and have only grown in influence across the world since.

Burns Night

Burns Night can be small, informal occasions, or they can be large-scale formal dining experiences. In either case, the meal traditionally served to guests consists of haggis, neeps and tatties (that’s haggis, turnips and potatoes). Haggis is a dish made of beef suet, beef fat (although some will prefer lamb), lamb pluck (heart and liver), oatmeal, onions and plenty of spices, all wrapped in sheep’s stomach.

Perhaps not the most appetising dish on paper to anyone unfamiliar with its unique charms - but, as the saying goes, don’t knock it until you try it.

Address to a Haggis

 One of the most notable aspects of Burns Night is the recital of a poem written by the bard in 1786, Address to a Haggis. It is traditionally recited before the meal by the head of the table, who holds a knife over the haggis before cutting into it at the end of the poem. The poem in full is provided below: if you’re planning to throw your own Burns soiree, now’s a good time to get practicing.

Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o’ the pudding-race!

Aboon them a’ ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy o’a grace

As lang’s my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hurdies like a distant hill,

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

In time o’need,

While thro’ your pores the dews distil

Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,

An’ cut you up wi’ ready sleight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like ony ditch;

And then, O what a glorious


Warm-reekin’, rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an’ strive:

Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,

Till a’ their weel-swall’d kytes belyve

Are bent like drums;

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,

Bethankit! hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout

Or olio that wad staw a sow,

Or fricassee wad make her spew

Wi’ perfect sconner,

Looks down wi’ sneering, scornfu’ view

On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,

As feckless as wither’d rash,

His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;

His nieve a nit;

Thro’ bloody flood or field to dash,

O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread.

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He’ll mak it whissle;


Like taps o’ thrissle.

Ye Pow’rs, wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o’ fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware

That jaups in luggies;

But, if ye wish her gratefu’ prayer

Gie her a haggis!

Burns Night recipe

Read a step-by-step guide by chef and Scotland on Sunday food writer Tom Kitchin on how to make haggis, neeps and tatties

Robert Burns factfile

• Born: January 25, 1759, Alloway. Burns Night is celebrated on the bard’s birthday every year

• As well as being a poet, Robert Burns was a farmer and exciseman. He also nearly took up a job as a bookkeeper in Jamaica, and had previously held a short-lived ambition to be a flax-dresser

• Burns, famous for numerous love affairs, fathered a total of 12 children; the poet has over 600 living descendants

• One of Robert Burns’ most famous works, Auld Lang Syne, is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as one of the top three most sung songs in the English language alongside ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’

• An STV poll in 2009 voted Robert Burns as the Greatest Scot of all time, beating William Wallace


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