No sooner has the festive season passed and we’re straight into another national celebration. Yes, Burns Night will be celebrated on 25 January, when people across the world will be commemorating the life and times of poet Robert Burns, who was born on 25 January 1759 and died 21 July 1796.

 

And regardless of whether or not you have a taste for haggis or are fond of the bagpipes, no one can deny that one of his most well known works, Auld Lang Syne, still plays a key role in modern culture.

 

For this year, rather than provide you with our top Burns Night menu, we thought we’d provide you with a selection of Burns Night facts that we hope will give you a better flavour of the man and his legacy.

 

And, to boot, we thought we’d provide readers with a special offer on John Ross Jr’s Whisky Smoked Salmon (well, it is Burns’ Night). For this week only, we’re providing a discount on ALL our packs of Whisky Smoked Salmon.

 

In the meantime, here are our favourite top 7 Burns Night facts.

 

1. A Scottish face with global respect

When it comes to the world’s non-religious figures, Robert Burns is up there. After Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus, he has more statues dedicated to him across the globe than anyone.

 

2. If it’s good enough for Dylan…

When asked for the source of his greatest creative inspiration, Bob Dylan selected Burns’ 1794 song ‘A Red, Red Rose’.

 

3. Poet and space traveller

A book of Burns’ poetry was launched into space alongside astronaut Nick Patrick, who carried the book, eventually completing a 5.7 million mile journey and 217 orbits of earth on a two-week trip.

 

4. A globally renowned songwriter

After ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow’, ‘Auld Lang Syne’ is recognised as being one of the three most popular songs in the English language.

 

5. A fashion icon?

Global fashion icon Tommy Hilfiger claims to have descended from Robert Burns (apparently).

 

6. He’s Bad

We were impressed with Dylan, however Michael Jackson allegedly recorded an album with none other than David Guest, setting Burn’s poems to music.

 

7. A ladies man

Despite living for a modest 37 years, Robert Burns fathered 12 children by four different women.

 

Whilst we haven’t provided our take on a Burns Night menu this year, we’d love to hear what those celebrating the day will be eating on Monday. Share your Burns Night recipes, menus and pictures from this year’s celebrations via our Facebook page.