The Burns Supper - Ultimate Fun: There's nothing quite like the Burns Supper in the world . . . round about 25th January every year, Scots men and women, alumni of Scottish schools and universities, employees and clients of Scottish businesses, lovers or descendents of Scots all gather to celebrate the birthday of our national poet, Robert Burns.

May 2007

Burns' Festivals 2007: One thing we know well — Robert Burns liked a party!
How much more would he have enjoyed a whole festival — especially if he were the guest of honour!

February 2006

The Immortal Memory: A mainstay of Burns Suppers, the Immortal Memory celebrates Burns' enduring spirit. It's a fitting tribute for one who himself did so much to preserve and popularise Scotland's rich historical, cultural and literary heritage.

January 2006

"As ithers hear us": This Burns Night, as you clear your throat before launching into a well-practiced rendition of Tam O'Shanter or Holy Willie's Prayer, be sure to mind your P's and Q's, or should that be your R's and CH's.

December 2005

Old Acquaintance: "Auld Lang Syne" which means "old long ago" was actually discovered, not written, by Robert Burns in 1788.

January 2005

Robert Burns at the United Nations: "For a' that, an a' that, It's coming yet for a' that, That man to man the world o'er Shall brothers be for a' that."

January 2004

Burns in a box 2004: At New Year, on St Andrew's Night and on Burns Night, Auld Lang Syne — Burns' famous song of friendship — unfailingly rounds off the celebrations in homes, village halls, ballrooms and at street parties around the world.

October 2002

1.6 million Scots speakers — for sterters: A recent Scottish Executive survey estimates that there are 1.6 million active Scots speakers in Scotland today, and Scots Language insiders estimate that there's a vast number who also use the language 'passively'.

May 2006

The Forgotten Connections Between Abraham Lincoln and Robert Burns: At some time during the mid 1820s, after his pioneer family had crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky to southern Indiana, the teen-aged Lincoln stumbled across a collection of Burns' poetry.

July 2006

Why Scottish Literature Matters: Why should the study of Scottish literature still matter in a globalised world? The question is certainly relevant to Scots, but also, in its wider implications, to many students, scholars and readers who locate themselves outside its borders.

May 2004

"As ithers see us": Oor Wullie's recent accession to the throne of top Scottish icon begs the question asked by Burns "How do others view the Scots and what do they think of Scotland?"

September 2002

West Coast Astronomy: The tanned, eager faces of a table-full of Canadian climbers looked up at me, bemused but amused, as I launched into addressing a haggis which had taken two days to track down in deepest British Columbia.

Scots Soundtrack to New Year everywhere: It's New Year's Eve and the bells have just struck midnight. From Bombay to Baltimore, Moscow to Madrid and Sydney to Swindon, what is everyone singing? No question about it, with the possible exception of 'Happy Birthday', 'Auld Lang Syne' is the most popular song in the world!

Burns and Slavery: "Burns has also been described as a poet of the poor, an advocate of social and political change, and an opponent of slavery, pomposity and greed . . ."

Scottish - Probably the Best Accent in the World: . . . the chances are that if you dropped a Scotsman into the middle of the Amazonian jungle, where they had to live with the forest people for twenty years, and have no contact with any other Scots, they would still speak like a Scot.