Celebrating Robert Burns National Poet of Scotland
(see ticket info below)
You don’t have to be Scottish to celebrate Robert Burns' birthday—his work and impact extend far beyond Scotland! Robert Burns is often called "The Bard of Scotland," but his poems and songs have universal themes of love, freedom, nature, and humanity that anyone can relate to. Celebrating his birthday on January 25th can be a way to appreciate his cultural contributions and his influence on literature and music.
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Here are a few reasons why anyone, Scottish or not, might celebrate:
1. Appreciation of Literature:
Burns wrote poems and songs that are still beloved today, like Auld Lang Syne, Address to a Haggis, A Red, Red Rose, and perhaps most famously Tam o' Shanter. These works are part of the literary canon, and celebrating his birthday is a way to honor a master of language and storytelling.
2. Cultural Heritage and Unity:
Even if you’re not Scottish, celebrating Burns’ night is a way to appreciate and learn about Scottish culture. It's also a chance to connect with others who might be from different backgrounds but enjoy his work.
3. Universal Themes:
Burns' poetry touches on themes like the importance of friendship, the beauty of nature, social justice, and the struggles of everyday people. His words resonate with many, regardless of nationality.
4. Fun Traditions:
Burns' birthday celebration, known as the Burns Supper, is full of fun traditions, like enjoying Scottish food (including haggis), toasts, and reciting his poetry. It’s a warm and enjoyable way to spend time with friends and family.
5. A Global Event:
Burns Night has become an international event, celebrated by people worldwide—there are Burns Supper gatherings not only in Scotland, but also the U.S., Canada, Germany, South Africa and New Zealand! So you’re joining a big, diverse group of people appreciating his legacy.
In short, you don’t need to be Scottish to enjoy the music, food, and celebration of Robert Burns’ life. It's about appreciating art, culture, and the shared human experience. Does that sound like something you'd be up for?
You don’t have to wear tartan to be part of the celebration. While it's a fun tradition for some to don a kilt or plaid for a Burns Supper, it's definitely not a requirement. The focus is more on enjoying the spirit of the event—appreciating Burns' poetry, sharing a meal with friends, and celebrating Scottish culture in a relaxed and inclusive way. So whether you show up in a sweater or something more festive, you're still very much part of the fun!
Please join the Utah Scottish Association at our Burns Night celebration on Saturday the 24th of January at the Utah Sons of the Pioneers building 3301 E Louise Ave, Millcreek, UT 84109 at 6PM.
Robert Burns
National Poet of Scotland
Robert Burns Supper 2026
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Tickets now available for SLC.​​​​
We do not have an event at BYU this year due to a few new event requirements and changing circumstances. We are open to having an event in Provo again in the future, but we were unable to do so for the 2026 event due to time constraints.
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Salt Lake City Burns Supper
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January 24th, 2026
Sons of the Pioneers Building
3301 E Louise Ave, Millcreek, UT 84109
6:30pm (gather) 7:00 (dinner and program)
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Ticket information:
Members: $40.00 plus $1.65 processing fee.
Non-Members: $45.00 plus $1.79 processing fee.
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We will have a traditional dinner (with haggis) and Robert Burns Supper program. Please remember we will have an open mic for participants to read Burns poems, sing Burns songs, tell Burns stories.
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NOTE: We know Robert Burns Suppers traditionally toast with Scotch, however, our event space and caterer do NOT allow alcohol at these events. For this reason we have adopted a zero-tolerance policy. We will toast with a non-alcoholic beverage.
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Robert Burns is one of Scotland’s most important literary figures and is best known for his famous, and often humorous, songs and poetry. Burns was an inspiring and passionate pioneer of his generation and is regarded as Scotland’s National Bard.Burns was born to a poor family in Alloway, Ayr, on 25 January 1759 and began his working life on the family farm. Burns’ father recognised the importance of education and hired a local teacher for Burns, who went on to demonstrate signs of an exceptional writing talent from a very young age.As Burns grew older, his great passion for Scotland and his dynamic, contemporary vision played an important role in inspiring the founders of socialism and liberalism. His literary fame began when his first work Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, later known as the Kilmarnock Edition, was published in 1786 after which his writing career flourished.
Although Burns only lived to the age of 37, he enjoyed an eventful life and produced an astonishing amount of great literarey work during his career.
Burns is famous for his political views, revolutionary behaviour and his love for the lassies, all of which can be seen in his extensive catalogue of work. Burns was also inspired by the beauty of Scotland, particularly the breathtaking scenery of Ayrshire, his birthplace, and the romantic setting of his later home region of Dumfries & Galloway.
Robert Burns is famous for his brilliant poetry and songs, of which he wrote hundreds in both Scots and English during his short life. His unique and often radical style is what distinguishes him as Scotland’s National Bard and his work continues to influence Scottish literature to this day.
Burns was a keen traveler and he collected many Scottish folk songs along the way and adapted them using his own distinctive style. He is equally well-known for his thought-provoking and romantic work as he is for his more humorous poems.