The special day in Scottish calendars celebrates Robert Burns’ birthday of January 25, with people coming together to recite poetry by the legendary Bard, sing his songs, drink whisky and enjoy haggis, neeps and tatties.
We’ve found some great photos of Edinburgh celebrations of the Ayrshire poet’s birthday over the years and some rather strange events taking place to mark the occasion, including a haggis being piped onto a flight from the city to London in the 60s.
We also found photos of a Burns Supper on Arthur’s Seat, Scotland’s rugby stars enjoying our traditional dish, a reverend with a pile of holy haggis, local residents heading to Moscow for a Burns Night celebration, and kind supermarket staff feeding the homeless on Burns Night.
17. Helping the homeless
Sainsbury's Murrayfield staff cooked a Burns Super at the homeless shelter Grassmarket Mission in 2009. Spokeswoman and potato peeler Audrey McDonald, pictured, explained that supermarket staff had wanted to do more to help. | TSPL Photo: National World
18. Served with a smile
Waitress Aurelija Cepkauskaite at the Rabbie Burns Cafe on the Royal Mile with some haggis, neeps and tatties ahead of Burns Night in 2012. | TSPL Photo: Ian Georgeson
19. Ladies night
A girls Burns Night in 2006 at the Scottish Malt Whisky Society at Queen Street. The night was held for ladies to enjoy a night of Burns culture, haggis and whisky. Pictured is Annabel Meikle reading the bard's poems while Catherine Nicoll and Anne Laidlaw enjoyed a dram of whisky. | TSPL Photo: Phil Wilkinson
20. Tucking in
In celebration of Scotland's national poet Robert Burns, The Martin Brokers Group held their 33rd Burns Supper in Edinburgh in 2009. | TSPL Photo: National World