World famous poet Robert Burns is best remembered for his timeless poetry, but there is much more to his story. Here are 10 interesting facts you may not have known about Rabbie Burns.
Each year on January 25th, people around the world celebrate Scotland's national poet Robert Burns with ceilidhs, traditional Scottish music, food and poetry recitations.
'Rabbie', as he is affectionately referred to, is well known for his command of the Scots language which has inspired countless people around the world since he first put pen to paper.
In honour of the great bard, here are 10 facts about Robert Burns which you may not have known... including his real name.
In honour of the great bard, here are 10 facts about Robert Burns which you may not have known... including his real name.
5. The first Burns Supper didn't take place on January 25th
The first ever Burns Supper took place not on the traditional date of January 25th - the poet's birthday - but instead on the anniversary of his death, July 21st, 1801. Another event was then planned, this time to take place on Burns' birthday, though the group had the wrong date and ended up hosting the supper on January 29th. However, in 1803 they held their get-together on January 25th marking the beginning of the tradition.
Robert Burns’ poetry has inspired many creatives across the world, with his fans including figures such as Bob Dylan, Abraham Lincoln, Michael Jackson, Martin Luther King. American author John Steinbeck's 1937 novel ‘Of Mice and Men’ was also reportedly inspired by a line from Burns’ poem ‘To a Mouse’.
After his body was exhumed in 1815, it was discovered that Robert Burns apparently had an unusually large head. Before being laid to rest in Dumfries, his skull was measured and found to be above average in size.
Burns' poetry well travelled in more ways than one. In 2010 British-born astronaut Nick Patrick carried a book of Burns poetry into orbit during a two-week mission to the International Space Station. Pupils taking part in the Scottish Space School presented the astronaut with the volume ahead of his mission aboard the STS-130 Endeavour. After 217 orbits of the Earth and 5.7 million miles, the book was returned safely to Scotland. In addition, on Mercury there is a crater named 'Burns' after the poet. Photo: Robert Markowitz/NASA