Burns History
The 19th-century scholar and educationalist J S Blackie summed up Burns' importance to Scotland and the Scots with the words:
'When Scotland forgets Burns, then history will forget Scotland.'
Robert Burns has been a landmark in Scotland's national history and identity. Everyone, everywhere, who joins in the celebration of Scotland, Scottish Heritage or Scottish Culture, will witness references to Robert Burns.
The ploughman poet, the national bard, the man of the people, the lover of the good life...are only a few of the characteristics that have been attributed to Burns, who is definitely the best loved Scottish poet, admired not only for his fascinating work, but also for his extraordinary life.
Burns will remain in our memory for many reasons, but most of all, because through his poems he asked us to embrace his dream of true brotherhood and celebrate our common humanity. From being an opponent to the slave trade to being a member of the Freemasons society, his fight against social inequalities and pursuit of justice for all people, played a key role in his life.
But apart from his strong devotion to the common good, he was also famous for his character, his high spirits, his hard drinking and his passion for the lasses, which is quite obvious in most of his poems.
Born on January 25, 1759, he was the son of a farmer and grew up in a small cottage in the village of Alloway near Ayr. He lived a childhood of demanding physical work and poverty through which he experienced and developed his acute awareness of the social injustices around him.
From his first works in April 1786 his talent became obvious and by his mid 20s he was already an accomplished poet and songwriter in his native Scottish Dialect. Some of his first works include "The Cotter's Saturday Night", "To a Mouse" and "To a Mountain Daisy," which earned him much critical acclaim. Poems such as "Tam O' Shanter", "Holy Willie's Prayer" and others established him as Scotland's national poet. One of the most famous songs of the world today, "Auld Lang Syne" is also written by him and sung every New Year's Eve.
Burns died at the age of 37 of rheumatic fever, but has always been remembered as one of Scotland's most important gifts to the world and his poems and songs are still as popular as they were when first written. After his death, his closest friends started the ritual of the Burns night, which has remained largely unchanged today, celebrating his memory and keeping his legend alive.
So, let's pay tribute to him, as he so highly deserves, on this significant anniversary, along with countless people all around the globe. No doubt if he were alive today, he would have joined us in the celebrations with a wee dram himself!
For more historical info on a biography of the poet, check out these links:
http://www.futuremuseum.co.uk/
http://burns.visitscotland.com/who/
http://www.worldburnsclub.com/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/history/burnsnight/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Burns