Today is Robert Burns' Day. It is a time of celebration of a very beloved and treasured Scotish Bard. Bard means a poet, traditionally one who recites epics and is associated with a particular oral tradition. Robert's first poem was called "O Once I Lov'd A Bonnie Lass" which you can enjoy a lovely rendition at: https://youtu.be/XdaGJG1RS28 In case you were wondering Lass means a girl or young woman. His most famous poem is actually one that we sing on New Year's which is Auld Lang Syne. It is sang in the most lovely way at: https://youtu.be/EuwZw__YQvE Auld lang Syne actually means times long past. A poem that many adore is called My Love is Like a Red Red Rose which can be enjoyed: https://youtu.be/BpyosZg2WRw and another sung version can be appreciated at: https://youtu.be/4hOZgkglvLA Barron used a free online paint program called: https://kleki.com/ to make his lovely rose. It is remarkable!
On the topic of roses there are some lovely creators at Dwelling Logs that have a free resource on roses. You can obtain one at: https://dwellinglogs.gumroad.com/l/therose
January 25 many partake in an event called Burn's Night which is a celebration of Scotland's National Poet Robert Burns by having a supper. You can learn more about that: https://youtu.be/OQ5Cl9wwon0 and the man himself: https://youtu.be/qMxIBqpryG0 There is also a museum devoted to this gentleman: https://youtu.be/8cUpCJBcbug. Barron gave his first toast to thank and celebrate Robert Burns, dinner guests, and the people of Scotland for the love, memories and the poems.
It has been noted that, "Many of Bruns's poems and verse epistles employ the six-line stanza, derived from the medieval tail-rhyme stanza" Source: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/robert-burns. If you are interested in creating a poem in Robert Burn's style is a rather unique video: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x3qhgma There is a lovely dictionary to help about the old scottish language as well as a sponsorship for a word as a gift:https://dsl.ac.uk/ For those of you wondering what a poem is Kwame Alexander shares three ingredients of a poem which are rhyme, rhythm, and repetition. You can learn about that at:https://youtu.be/FDTmswL2cf0 The definition of a poem is difficult however it is an enjoyable expression of your thoughts and emotions in some way. Also this video on rhyme is great: https://youtu.be/rVuWKBFkZcU
At this webpage you will find a lovely map of the area Robert Burns is from: https://www.insiders-scotland-guide.com/RobertBurns.html
Should you be interested in joining a Robert Burns Federation membership can be found on this webpage along with all of his poems in chronological order or by the first line in each poem: http://robertburnsworldfederation.org/
It was a rather wonderful evening to be warm inside as the wind was throwing snow around as Barron informed me:
There is an excellent source of Scottish history summed up below:
- "Beginning around 8000 years ago, the first settlers are believed to have arrived in Scotland from the area of the Mediterranean, although some recent evidence from a 9000 year old site on Ben Lawyers shows some of evidence of early Norwegian occupation.
- About 2000 BC first descendants of these settlers erect Standing Stones
- AD 82 Roman invasion into "Caledonia" (Roman name for this land) and Roman Emperor Tacitus records victory against the "Picts" (Painted people)and various other tribes.
- AD 121 Romans build Hadrians Wall and Antonine Wall to keep out the Picts they were unable to conquer.
- AD 500 Romans finally abandon Scottish outposts. Picts Angles and Scots go on to rule their individual kingdoms.
- AD 563 Columba founds monastery on the Island of Iona.. Christianity spreads.
- In the year 695 The king of the Picts, King Bruide, defeats the Angles of Northumbria.
- AD 843 Picts and Scots are united under Kenneth McAlpin and the Picts identity is lost to history
- AD 890 The Norsemen occupy the Western and Northern Isles of Scotland.
- AD 1018 King Malcolm defeats the Angles and his grandson Duncan brings the country together under the name of Scotia, except for the remaining isles still held by Norsemen.
- 1296 Edward I takes the Stone of Scone (or the Stone of Destiny) to England.
- 1263 Western Isles claimed back from the Norsemen.
- 1320 Scottish sovereignty affirmed by treaty with England and the declaration of the Pope.
- 1326 Scottish parliament meets for the first time.
- 1472 Shetland and Orkney Islands reclaimed and placed under Scottish rule.
- 1488-1513 Under the strong leadership of James IV Edinburgh becomes the capital of Scotland.
- 1542-1567 The period of Mary Queen of Scots' short reign.
- 1587 Elizabeth I orders the execution of Mary Queen of Scots.
- 1603 James VI of Scotland becomes James I of England and moves to London.
- 1689 James VII deposed after his attempt to restore Catholicism.
- 1692 Massacre of Glencoe - Campbells murder their hosts the MacDonalds.
- 1745-6 Prince Charles Edward Stuart, or Bonnie Prince Charlie(grandson of James VII) makes a bid for the throne but is defeated at the Battle of Culloden and becomes a wanted man with a price on his head.
- 1706-1707 Union of Parliaments of England and Scotland Scottish Parliament dissolved.
- 1760 Beginning of "The Clearances."
- 1769 Scotsman James Watt patents the Steam Engine.
- 1786 Robert Burns publishes some of his first poems.
- 1800 Glasgow's population reaches 200,000 as industry (cotton and shipbuilding mainly) flourish.
- 1832 Death of Sir Walter Scott. He is buried at Dryburgh Abbey.
- 1848 Queen Victoria moves into Balmoral Castle, bringing the Highlands into popular fashion as the place to visit on holiday.
- 1876 Scotsman Alexander Graham Bell patents his new invention- the first " working telephone."
- 1888 James Keir Hardie founds the Scottish Labour Party.
- 1914-1918 74,000 Scots die in World War I.
- 1931 Economic downturn - high unemployment in Clyde shipyards.
- 1934 Founding of the Scottish National Party.
- 1967 Oil discovered in the North Sea.
- 1996 Stone of Destiny returned to Scotland and now on display in Edinburgh Castle.
- 1999 Scotland's parliament reestablished."
As the adage goes save the best for last. A timeless gentleman, although born in Bulawayo, Zimbabwae on Aug. 24, 1948, captures the modern Scotish spirit, intelect, and passion through his written word much lije Robert Burns himself and how can one not fall in love with such a loving talent Mr. Alexander Mcall Smith. To become familiar with this spirit kindly visit and subscribe to his newsletter and make a place for him in your home: https://www.alexandermccallsmith.com/off-the-page/quotes To us he is Scotland's literary treasure. These are our ebooks from our app GooglePlay:
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