Burns Night Wishes to Scots and Burns lovers everywhere
And if you’re a fan of his wonderful narrative poem Tam O’Shanter, you can still read Joanna’s modern-day version for free on Joanna’s short-story page
Tag Archives: Burns Night
Burns Night plus a modest tribute to Tam O’Shanter
Monday 25th January is Burns Night, celebrating Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. Traditionally, Scots and others celebrate with a Burns Supper and many will have already taken place, over the weekend. I believe Sophie (Englishwoman of this parish) may even have been seen at one of them.
Wikipedia has an article about Burns Suppers including the Address to the Haggis and pictures of haggis, too!
Robert Burns, Poet and Exciseman
Robert Burns (1759-1796) was not only a poet, he was also an exciseman, operating on the borders with England. Hardy smugglers used to cross from England to Scotland via the Solway Firth, because the excisemen would be waiting on the land route to levy their duties. If you could nip across the Firth – by the ford – you could probably avoid duty altogether.
Of course, if you were caught in the Solway quicksands, you might not see Scotland again. Ever.
