Varvara Bashkirova writes about the international appeal of a very national poet.

On January 25, Scotland will commemorate its most beloved son: Robert Burns. It is a national holiday held dear in many Scots’ hearts, yet the traditional way of celebrating this date seems widely unknown to the largely non-Scottish student community of Edinburgh. Whilst no one minds an excuse for drinking whisky in the middle of the week, not many seem to have a real idea of why Rabbie is so significant to Scotland. It is possible, however, for everyone to enjoy Burns’ night, and not let non-Scottish roots be an excuse to ignore the traditions involved in the celebration. And with the traditions including whisky, haggis and ceilidhs, who would want to ignore them?

Burns’ popularity extends far beyond Scotland; as far as Russia, where many of his poems are often mistakenly considered to be part of Russian Folklore. My mother always talks of Burns as of her favourite poet. She does not speak any English, let alone Scots, however she can recite many of his poems by heart - in Russian translation.

Such popularity abroad may seem strange, since Burns is considered to be a very ‘Scottish’ poet. “His poems simply describe life how it is; I love their simplicity and honesty”, my mother said after I asked about her love of the Scottish Bard. It does not seem to matter whether he is describing Highlands or Siberia; his work evokes similar responses regardless of people’s nationalities.

The universality of Burns’ poetry is, ironically, part of what makes him so loved as a nationalistic poet, too. George Bernard Shaw once famously said: “A healthy nation is as unconscious of its nationality as a healthy man of his bones”. In his writings Burns does not consciously work to convey his being Scottish; he simply is.

Born to a farmers’ family, Burns wrote honestly about the world he knew and understood: agricultural life, the Highlands, Scottish folklore. In doing so, he related to his audience and became a true voice of Scotland, gaining him national, as well as international, esteem. In 2009, he was voted the Greatest Scot by the Scottish public.

A great man deserves a celebration equally as grand. The celebration is complex with its history and traditions, and requires more effort to satisfy than an average student may be willing to put in. In no way, however, should this deter those celebrating the evening; the Burns Supper can be easily adjusted to student reality without losing its authentic value.

The Supper starts with a Scottish broth. If you have been living on frozen pizza for the last couple of months, and the oven is gathering dust, don’t fear! The broth can be found in a supermarket; alternatively, you could skip it altogether! After all, everyone will be waiting for the true highlight of the evening: haggis. It should be carried into the room with bagpipes in the background playing Burns’ songs (YouTube should do the trick). But don’t fall on the mouth-watering dish just yet; many will not know this, but Burns’ Address to a Haggis should be recited first. Reciting the Address in Scots can be a great entertainment in itself, so make sure you appoint the ‘least Scottish’ person to do this. The haggis is followed by certain toasts, including the famous Toast to the Lassies. A man must make this address to the ladies present; a hugely entertaining affair in close companies, and a perfect ice breaker in new ones – especially when paired with whisky. Ladies then get their revenge in the Reply to the Toast to the Lassies.

You could take it seriously and prepare the speech in advance – however improvising often proves to be much more fun. There are no strict rules as to how to end the evening; the only essential is the ‘Water of Life’ which must be consumed in vast amounts throughout the evening. Ceilidhs, surprisingly, are not essential, but highly recommended!

So let us raise our glasses for Rabbie, the great Scots Baird, nou and foriver!