Burns Night 2019 – an authentic Scottish celebration at the British Residence
British Ambassador Kate Smith CMG hosted the annual Burns Night celebration in honour of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns.
On Monday 28 January, HMA Kate Smith CMG, hosted a special celebration at the British Residence in honor of Scottish national poet, Robert Burns.
Robert Burns (1759-1796) is considered one of the UK’s most prominent lyric poets and a pioneer of Romanticism. His poems, written with grace and humor, and distinguished by unpretentious beauty, continue to touch the hearts of people around the globe who commemorate his legacy, on or around his birthday (January 25), with an annual ritual known as “Burns Night”.
This year’s Scottish-themed evening faithfully kept to the ritual. Guests, both British and Greek, had the opportunity to immerse themselves in Scottish culture through a rich program filled with vivid images, sounds, flavors and scents from Scotland.
Famous Burns’ poems were recited and traditional dances performed to the sounds of Scottish music. A taste of traditional Scottish gastronomy highlighted the evening, featuring the national dish, haggis, which was accompanied by authentic Scotch whisky. The night ended with the traditional singing of Burns’ best known work, Auld Lang Syne.
Burns Night was held in partnership with Scottish University Alumni Associations (Universities of Strathclyde, Edinburgh, Glasgow and West of Scotland) and was attended by many of their alumni. The event served as a double celebration as it marked the growing interest of Greek students who choose to pursue their undergraduate studies in Scotland. The rich curricula and high academic levels of the Scottish Universities, coupled with minimal tuition fees, explain why these Universities attract an increasing number of students from Greece.
