Robbie Burns Day a chance to celebrate bard's poetry
Attention fans of poetry, Scotland and haggis: today is Robbie Burns Day, and to celebrate we're sharing fascinating facts about the bard so you can impress your friends.
He's the third-most statued person on earth, and he wrote the third-most popular song in the world
Attention fans of poetry, Scotland and haggis: today is Robbie Burns Day.
To celebrate, we're sharing fascinating facts about the bard so you can impress your friends.
Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland, 257 years ago today. He was raised poor on a farm, but his father put aside enough money to hire a teacher for his son.
It paid off. Burns lived to only 37, but his words and thoughts are woven into our world today. It's about 100 per cent certain you have quoted — or sung — his words yourself.
Five famous quotes:
Five Burns facts
- There are more statues of Robert Burns around the world than any other non-religious person, except Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus.
- Bob Dylan says the source of his greatest inspiration was Burns's song A Red Red Rose.
- The classic novels Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger and John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men take their titles from poems by Burns.
- The Guinness World Records book recognizes Auld Lang Syne as the third most popular song in the world, after Happy Birthday and For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.
- Michael Jackson was a huge fan, recording many of Robert Burns's songs. Producer David Gest and Jackson worked on the idea of creating a work of art based on Burns's work. The idea inspired a musical, Robert Burns: The Musical.
What's your favourite Burns poetry? Share it in the comments below.