Although many poets and musicians have won awards, there is only one person who has a world-wide celebration every year from Canada, United States, Europe, South Africa, to Australia. That is Robert Burns, national poet of modern Scotland.   

Robert Burns is credited with saving the folk music of Scotland. He was born just a few years after England conquered Scotland in 1746. The English were intent on destroying the clan system. Edicts of Proscription were issued forbidding the remaining Scottish people from wearing tartans and speaking Gaelic upon removal or threat of death. Scottish leaders and their families were hunted down. The lucky ones escaped and came to America and Canada. Not many decades passed before the old language, except in the darkest dells of Scotland, was lost.

Robert Burns was a poor farmer in Ayeshire, Scotland, but became an accomplished poet. He began to compose a collection of poems about familiar country characters and legends. To make the subjects more human, he wrote in the Broad Scots dialect that was used for storytelling. He set many of these to old pub ballads.

He performed this repertoire in meeting halls and salons around Scotland, attracted mentors, and became famous. Two hundred and fifty-eight years later, Robert Burns Nights highlighting his poems and songs are bringing people together around the world.  He did not live long enough to gain his popularity. He died at the age of 37.

The Friends of the Scottish Tartans Museum will host its annual Burns Night Dinner on Jan. 21 at Tartan Hall, First Presbyterian Church in Franklin. You do not have to have a Scottish heritage or a certain dress to attend this event. Anyone is welcome. The evening starts with a roll call of clans and districts, moves on to a five course Scottish dinner menu, interspersed with Burns’ poems and songs and concludes with singing “Auld Lang Syne,” perhaps his most famous work. Martha’s Kitchen is the caterer for our night. During the dinner, the Jacobites by Name will provide musical entertainment.

Common practices in all Burns Night celebrations are a calling of the clans, presentation of the Haggis, ode to the haggis, Selkirk grace, a witty toast to the Lads and Lassies, the immortal memory of Robert Burns, a toast to the bard, and “Auld Lang Syne,” which Scots sing to welcome a new year.

There will be a silent auction, door prizes, and a 50/50 raffle. It adds spice to the night to watch competition between friends who try to outbid the other. The silent auction helps us to raise money to fund our projects through the year. There will be a donation jar. Putting on a five course dinner is rather expensive, but the Friends do this night to support our friends and the Scottish community. 

Merrilee Bordeaux

Franklin