Song of the Day - 12th December
Today's Song of the Day is another wintry-themed one. It is a setting of a poem by Scotland's most acclaimed poet, Robert Burns (1759 – 1796). Burns holds a cherished place in the hearts of the Scottish people, so much so that they have dedicated an entire night to honour his remarkable life! The first Burns Night was held in remembrance at Burns Cottage in Ayrshire by his devoted friends on 21 July 1801, marking the fifth anniversary of his death; this tradition has continued ever since. The first still-active Burns Club was founded in Greenock in 1801 by merchants who hailed from Ayrshire, some of whom had the privilege of knowing Burns personally. They celebrated the first Burns supper on what they believed to be his birthday, 29 January 1802, but they later discovered through the Ayr parish records that his true date of birth was actually 25 January 1759. Ever since, these suppers have been held on or around that significant date. Burns is renowned for his exquisite poetry...