Burns' Night

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, sometimes also known as Robert Burns Day (or Rabbie Burns Day) or Burns Night, although they may in principle be held at any time of the year.

Burns suppers are most common in Scotland and Northern Ireland but occur wherever there are Burns Clubs, Scottish Societies, expatriate Scots, or aficionados of Burns' poetry. There is a particularly strong tradition of them in southern New Zealand's main cityDunedin, of which Burns' nephew Thomas Burns was a founding father.

The first suppers were held in Ayrshire at the end of the 18th century by Robert Burns' friends on the anniversary of his death, 21 July, In Memoriam and they have been a regular occurrence ever since. The first Burns club, known as The Mother Club, was founded inGreenock in 1801 by merchants born in Ayrshire, some of whom had known Burns. They held the first Burns supper on what they thought was his birthday on 29 January 1802, but in 1803 discovered from the Ayr parish records that the correct date was 25 January 1759,^[1] and since then suppers have been held on 25 January, Burns' birthday.

Burns suppers may be formal or informal. Both typically include haggis (a traditional Scottish dish celebrated by Burns in Address to a Haggis), Scotch whisky and the recitation of Burns' poetry. Formal dinners are hosted by organisations such as Burns clubs, the Freemasonsor St Andrews Societies and occasionally end with dancing when ladies are present. Formal suppers follow a standard format.

La Noche de Burns o Cena de Burns (en inglés Burns night o Burns supper) es una celebración escocesa en la que se recuerda la vida y la obra del poeta Robert Burns, autor de poemas en escocés y en inglés de Escocia como "Auld Lang Syne". Esta cena suele celebrarse con motivo del cumpleaños del poeta (el día 25 de enero), aunque en principio puede realizarse en cualquier momento del año. Las cenas de Burns son especialmente comunes en Escocia, pero también pueden encontrarse allá donde exista un Club de Burns, una Sociedad Escocesa, expatriados de Escocia o simplemente amantes de la poesía de Robert Burns.

Las primeras cenas de este tipo las organizaron los amigos del poeta en Ayrshire a finales del siglo XVIII, para conmemorar su muerte el día 21 de julio, y se han mantenido desde entonces. Estas cenas pueden tener un carácter formal o informal, pero siempre deben ser entretenidas. Los únicos rasgos comunes a todas las cenas son el haggis, el whisky escocés y quizás un poema o dos. Las cenas organizadas por ciertas congregaciones franmasonas o Sociedades de San Andrés no permiten el acceso de mujeres.

The story of Robert Burns:

HAPPY BURNS' NIGHT!