In halls, on campus or in the city

We might be a few weeks into January, but the festivities aren't over yet!

The 25th of January is a special day in Scottish history as it marks the birthday of famous poet and lyricist, Robert Burns. There's no doubt there'll be lots going on to commemorate this special holiday, so we've put together a list of how you can join in on some of the festivities!

But first for those of you who might not be familiar with the Burns night celebrations, here's a little bit of history for you:

What is Burns Night and where did it start?

Burns Night traditions have been around for over 200 years, with people coming together every year to pay tribute to the life and work of one of the most celebrated Scotsmen, Robert Burns.

Robert Burns, also known as the 'Bard' of Scotland, is a key figure in Sottish identity and his poetry is admired for the way it celebrated traditional Scottish culture, so much so that he is now considered the national poet of Scotland.

The annual commemoration began on the fifth anniversary of Robert Burns' death in 1801 and started as a supper held by the late poet's friends. 

Since then, this tradition has continued and is now a national celebration across Scotland, with parliament welcoming the celebrations as a key cultural heritage event. Today, Burns night is still celebrated with a 'Burns supper' where people get together share readings of Robert Burns' poems and also enjoy traditional Scottish dishes like haggis, neeps and tatties.

How you can celebrate this year! 🎉

1. Join one of our events

We have plenty of Burns Night events in halls and on campus, including Celeidh celebrations at the Scottish Borders Campus and A Burns Night and Chinese New Year fusion feast at the Residence Life Hub. This is a great opportunity to find out more about Scottish traditions, try something new and meet new people.

2. Have a Burns Night Supper 

Why not celebrate Burns Night the traditional way, by tucking into some Scottish delicacies. Join us for a free Burns Supper at the Edinburgh Campus Student Union or, if you're not available, there will be plenty of restaurants in the city serving up a traditional meal. 

Or, if you don't fancy leaving the house, you can always host your own Burns style supper. You can even get your hands on our Burns Night Supper kit - hurry they're going fast! Don't worry if you didn't manage to nab one, you can follow this super easy and affordable recipe instead. 

3. Burns and Beyond

Highlighting the best free and ticketed events taking place in Edinburgh, you're sure to find an event in the city that interests you. 

Celebrate in the National Museum of Scotland at night, see the 'Auld Lang Syne' five-star show, or enjoy a blend of music, poetry and avant-garde animation in the Neu! Reekie! Burns extravaganza. They have events happening across the week, so it's definitely worth a look! 

However you choose to celebrate this special night of Scottish culture, we hope you have fun - Happy Burns Night!