Robbie Burns' Day

HAPPY ROBBIE BURNS DAY!

I have a plaid skirt at home but decided against wearing it to work, although my co-worker did wear her plaid jacket! She is of Scottish descent though, and has that lovely hard-to-understand accent which I'm now accustomed to!

Sometimes there is a "Gung Haggis Fat Choy" day at work, in which they try to celebrate Chinese New Year and Robbie Burns day all in one. The bagpipes will play as the haggis is ceremoniously brought in, and then there is a few minutes performance while the Chinese Lion dances for that head of lettuce. Today, is just a Robbie Burns day, none of that Chinese New Year stuff. I guess they couldn't find someone to do the lion dance thing, or maybe they just planned it a bit too last minute.


A Short Lesson on Robbie Burns:
Robbie (Robert) Burns was part of the Romantic movement (late 18th and 19th century literature). He wrote songs and poems that are still celebrated today, and some still sung today (Auld Lang Syne).

Romanticism brought back the ballad style of poetry, individualism, gothicism, and increased spiritual reflection into humanism, and the place of humans in nature. Other famous Romantic writers include William Blake, William Wordsworth, and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.

On every January 25, a Burns Supper is held in which guests gather for an informal dinner, enjoy some haggis, whisky, and read a poem or two.

I especially enjoy the traditional grace that is said before the dinner starts:

The Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some would eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.

In any case, Robbie Burns is a whimsical poet, a lot of fun to read, especially if you try out the accent while reading his stuff out loud. Robbie Burns is considered to be the national poet of Scotland, and because most of his writings was in a Scottish dialect, he became a cultural icon - a symbol of national pride.

Here is a poem/song written by Robbie Burns with which most of you should be familiar:

A Red Red Rose
O, my luve's like a red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June
O, my luve's like the melodie
That's sweetly play'd in tune

As fair art thou, my bonie lass
So deep in luve am I
And I will luve thee still, my Dear
Till a' the seas gang dry

Till a' the seas gang dry, my Dear
And the rocks melt wi' the sun!
O I will luve thee still, my Dear
While the sands o' life shall run

And fare thee weel, my only Luve
And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my Luve
Tho' it were ten thousand mile