Jan 25th sees Scottish folk toast the life of Robert Burns, born 1759 in Alloway, just 150 miles South of us here in Aberdeen.

The annual celebration of his life, poems and songs will be celebrated across Scotland tonight and over the coming weekend. Our cold winter evenings will be warmed with formal Burns suppers, where the great Bard’s life will be celebrated and his poetry read out loud.

To enjoy your own Burns Supper - all you need is a place to gather, plenty of haggis, neeps and tatties, a bunch of friends, a master of ceremonies, and good Scotch drink to ward off the bitter northern winds. These ingredients will ensure a good giggle as you try to do justice to great words and spirit of Robbie Burns.

Ideally, everyone should bring along some of Rab’s poetry to read out or maybe a song to sing (there’s plenty on the Internet.) In this way everyone gets involved and can take turns in being the object of amusement to all gathered. It’s not hard to see why this tradition has been continued for so long - Burns Suppers are always fun - often eye-watering funny.

For the majority of us, Burns is best known and most often sung song, reminding us that Burns is a poet of friendship. Auld Lang Syne is now generally sung at the end of a convivial evening and at New Year the world over.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot
Tho’ they return with scars?
hese are the noble hero’s lot
Obtain’d in glorious wars
Welcome, my Varo, to my breast
Thy arms about me twine
And make me once again as blest
As I was lang syne

Methinks around us on each bough
A thousand cupids play
Whils thro’ the groves I walk with you
Each object makes me gay
Since your return the sun and moon
With brighter beams do shine
Streams murmur soft notes while they run
As they did lang syne

A very happy birthday Robbie Burns!