Why Burns Night is still celebrated over 200 years on
In Scotland and around the globe, people continue to come together every January to celebrate the life and works of Scotland’s National Bard, Robert Burns.
Though he was just 37 when he died, Burns wrote over 550 poems and songs during his lifetime, with themes ranging from love and nature to politics and rural life in Scotland. His poems offer a window into Scottish culture in the 1700s, yet they also touch on feelings and injustices that still resonate deeply around the world today. While much has changed in 200 years, Robert Burns reminds us that the heart of humanity remains unchanged.
Life & Works
From humble beginnings, Robert Burns was the eldest of seven children born to William Burnes, a gardener, nurseryman, and farmer, and Agnes Broun, a housewife and mother, from whom it is said he may have inherited his lyrical gift. Born south of Ayr in Alloway, and living much of his early life in poverty, his experience of hard labour and the dire consequences of bad harvests are reflected in his poem ‘The Character of a Ruined Farmer’, likely referring to his father and the struggles he witnessed on the family farm.
Upon his father’s death in 1784, Burns experienced a burst of creativity, producing much of his poetry between 1784 and 1786. His vast collection includes works that express his love for women, celebrate life, and in many cases, advocate for radical political change. ‘A Man’s a Man for A’ That’ emphasizes the dignity of the common person, championing the idea of equality regardless of wealth or social standing. This, along with many of Burns’ other works, has earned him a reputation as a champion of democracy and a source of inspiration for liberalism and socialism.
Despite advocating for parliamentary and government reform and condemning institutional religion and state control, the later years of Burns' life were spent working for the government as an exciseman (tax collector). He humorously expressed how unpopular excisemen were in ‘The Devil’s Away with the Exciseman’, a satirical song where the exciseman is taken to hell and the entire village rejoices! While seemingly content to work for the state, and even forced into public silence following the French Revolution, Professor Gerald Carruthers has argued that this was when Burns produced some of his most progressive and radical political poetry.
In a surprising turn, Burns had planned to travel to the West Indies to work on sugar plantations—an idea that directly contradicted his fierce stance on equality. However, his poem ‘The Slave’s Lament’ powerfully communicated the horrific realities of the transatlantic slave trade, an issue many in Scotland were complicit in at the time. Expressing the suffering of people forcibly removed from their homes, this song’s message remains vital and deeply saddening today.
Burns was known for challenging social norms and voicing the concerns of the working man, but much of his poetry also reflects the simple pleasures and pains of life. As a pre-romantic poet, he valued feeling and emotion and expressed a deep sensitivity to nature. ‘A Bottle and an Honest Friend’ is a sweet tribute to the importance of human connection. ‘Selkirk Grace’ and ‘Address to a Haggis’, often recited during Burns Night celebrations, humorously reflect his love for gathering to feast, drink, and be merry. ‘Afton Water’, ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’, and ‘The Birks of Aberfeldy’ celebrate the bond between people and the natural world, while ‘To a Mouse’ questions humanity's perceived superiority over animals and the environment.
These recurring themes of love, nature, and human connection remain just as relevant today. In a world filled with pressures and complexities, Burns' poetry serves as a reminder that all we truly need for happiness is to share a meal, enjoy a drink, and laugh with good company!