What is Burns night and who was Robert Burns?

It's a night that features whisky, haggis and poetry in honour of 'Rabbie' Burns - but why and how is it celebrated?

Burns Night, held in honour of Scotland's most famous poet Robert Burns, is celebrated at the end of January every year.
The night is a way to celebrate the life of the 18th century bard and it falls on his birthday - Monday, January 25.
The tradition started a few years after the poet's death in 1796, when his friends commemorated his career on the date of his death (July 21) each year.
So began the Burns Supper, and more than two centuries later it is has become a nationwide event with recitals of the poet's works and a haggis dinner.
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Who was Robert Burns?
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and lyricist who is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland.
Of all the poets who have written in the Scottish language, Burns is most well-known, although much of his writing is also in standard English and a light Scots dialect.
Burns, also known as Rabbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire and various other names and epithets is considered to be a pioneer of the Romantic movement.
After his death he became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism, and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora around the world.
Celebration of his life and work became almost a national charismatic cult during the 19th and 20th centuries, and his influence has long been strong on Scottish literature. In 2009 he was chosen as the greatest Scot by the Scottish public in a vote run by Scottish television channel STV, narrowly beating William 'Braveheart' Wallace.
Burns wrote Auld Lang Syne
His poem (and song) "Auld Lang Syne" is often sung at Hogmanay (the last day of the year), and "Scots Wha Hae" served for a long time as an unofficial national anthem of the country.
Burns collected folk songs from across Scotland, often revising or adapting them, as well as making original compositions.
Other poems and songs of Burns that remain well known across the world today include "A Red, Red Rose"; "A Man's a Man for A' That"; "To a Louse"; "To a Mouse"; "The Battle of Sherramuir"; "Tam o' Shanter"; and "Ae Fond Kiss".
How do you celebrate Burns Night?
By wearing a kilt? Whether or not Burns would have worn kilts is still disputed, with some arguing that as a Lowlander he would not have worn them, although he was a champion of the right to wear traditional dress.
The full ritual of the night involves whisky, haggis and poetry readings. Those who partake are piped in and then The Selkirk Grace – the prayer of thanks attributed to Burns - is said before dinner.

The prayer goes:

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it;

But we hae meat, and we can eat

Sae let the Lord be thankit.

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What's on the Burns night menu?
A traditional Burns Supper starts with soup, often a Scottish broth. The haggis is then served with turnips and potatoes - known as neeps and tatties if you're a true Scot. The haggis, typically carried on a silver salver, is also piped in by the diners with a standing slow clap.
It is the "Great chieftain o the puddin’-race" according to the Address to the haggis. During the Address (also written by Burns) the speaker draws a knife and at the line “An’ cut you up wi’ ready slicht”, cuts the dish open. Once all the fanfare is over, the guests toast the haggis and tuck in.

Burns supper toasts
The meal is followed by the Immortal Memory toast, in which a guest gives a speech in honour of the great poet. Then a Toast to the Lassies, once a chance to thank the women cooking the meal, it is now the humorous highlight to the evening. A male diner offers an amusing but complimentary take on the role of women in general life, taking in quotes from Burns's works and referring to women in the group.
Any man making the toast should tread with care, since it is followed by a reply from the women.
The rest of the night is filled with a vote of thanks and guests performing works by Burns, ending with the Auld lang syne - a Scottish song most commonly associated with the bard, though its true origin is unknown. The group stand and holds hands to sing it.

Alternative ways to celebrate Burns night
Gibsons, the British games and puzzles company, are promoting their Scottish themed puzzles as a way for families to commemorate the day.One such puzzle features Tobermory, the capital of the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. Another captures the picturesque fishing village of Crail, situated on the east coast of Scotland.
Toby Carvery has created an edible portrait of Robert Burns to celebrate Burns’ Night featuring the new breakfast menu available at all of their Scottish chains. In commemoration of the poet’s 257th birthday, the carvery chain has produced a breakfast menu, apparently by popular demand, which includes 33 Scottish Lorne sausages, 35 potato cakes and eight "breakfast Yorkshire puddings", along with mushrooms, baked beans, bacon and eggs.