THE president of Dumfries’ historical Burns Club is encouraging people to celebrate the national bard’s birthday later this month in spite of the ensuing pandemic.
In its 200-year history, the group has had “difficult days” before, with cholera and war events preventing celebrations of the poet’s birth on the 25th of January, revealed club president Miller Caldwell.
“To add to the list of calamities is, of course, the Covid 19 virus,” he added. “However, we are not alone to be in this position and sadly a year has almost passed since local groups have had to cease meeting.”
But Miller maintains there is something all Scots can do on Burn’s Night and is urging everyone to tuck into some haggis, neeps and tatties, recite some of the poet’s globally-celebrated verse and mark the birthday of one of the country’s greatest icons. Channelling the bard, he added: “Enjoy your meal whether you are a couple or on your own. As Burns wrote:
What is title, what is pleasure
What is reputation’s care?
If we lead a life of pleasure
Tis no matter how or where!”
And just as people did around the world on Hogmanay, the club president reminds those celebrating to end their evening with Auld Lang Syne, adding the song is “easy to play on most instruments if you are musically inclined. (I suggest you play it in the key of F.)
“So enjoy your celebration, as I will, and as others all over the world will do too. And you do not have to imbibe whisky! Drink your preference.
“Enjoy your Burn’s Night wherever you are; no matter how or where.”
