Robbie burns wiki

The designations assigned to January 25 are many. It’s National Irish Coffee Day, Observe the Weather Day, National Florida Day, A Room of One’s Own Day, Fluoride Day and several more. But there’s one designation for January 25 rich in history, heritage and haggis — Robbie Burns Day!

January 25 marks the birthday of Robert (Robbie) Burns, a Scottish poet born in 1759 in Alloway, Scotland. His descriptions of country life and the satires he wrote — which took politicians and religious leaders to task — made him an enduring popular figure. As a child, his family struggled. His father was a tenant farmer on less-than-successful farms and as Robbie Burns grew, he also laboured on the farms. Burns published his first book of poetry in 1786. He died in 1796.

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Creating hundreds of poems, songs and letters, Burns became Scotland’s most famous poet with works that included the catchy Dec. 31 tune Auld Lang Syne.

How did fame catapult him into such elite status that Robbie Burns Day is celebrated in many parts of the world each January 25? Well, it started with a crew of about nine of his friends who gathered on the fifth anniversary of his death. They raised a glass to Burns, read some of his poems and ate haggis, deeming the gathering so successful that they decided to gather again on his birthday. They turned that event into an annual tradition that grew and grew.

Burns wrote a poem in honour of his fondness for haggis and a reading of this poem — called Address to a Haggis — is usually a key part of a Burns dinner.

It’s referred to as a savoury “pudding,” consisting of a sheep’s organs, including the heart, liver and lungs. The organs are mixed with onion, spices, oatmeal, stock and suet, and then encased in the animal’s stomach or artificial casing before being cooked. Because haggis used parts of the animal sometimes discarded, it was seen as a nourishing and affordable dish for poor folks.

A TV series and public vote said that was indeed the case in 2009, with Robert Burns winning the vote. The runner-up was William Wallace. While Burns’ name has been used on streets and in towns around the world, one of the most unusual honours is this: A crater on the planet Mercury is named after Burns.

The following opinion piece was published in the Calgary Herald in 2020, explaining why Robbie Burns is still an inspiration to many.