Welcome to the National
Museum of Scotland’s
Burns Unbound celebration!
Robert Burns, or Rabbie Burns, as some people like to call him, lived between
1759 and 1796 and is one of Scotland’s best known and much loved poets.
His birthday is celebrated worldwide on the 25th January as Burns Day.
Robert Burns wrote many of his poems in the Scots language.
Here are the first two verses of one
of Burns’ most popular poems:
To a Mouse
On turning her up
in her nest with
the Plough,
November, 1785
WEE, sleekit, cowrin, tim’rous beastie,
O, what a panic’s in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi’ bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an’ chase thee,
Wi’ murdering pattle!
I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion
Has broken Nature’s social union,
An’ justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion
An’ fellow-mortal!
You can read the full version today
up in our Event Space on Level 2.
There are also lots of other poems written
in Scots. Do you know either of these rhymes?
Can you say them out loud?
Jack and Jill
Katie Beardie
Twa wee birdies
Sittin on a hill,
Ane ca’d Jack,
And anither ca’d Jill.
Flee awa Jack,
Flee awa Jill,
Come back Jack,
Come back Jill.
Katie Beardie had a coo
Black and white aboot the mou’
Wasnae that a dainty coo?
Dance, Katie Beardie.
Anonymous
Katie Beardie had a hen,
Cackled but and cackled ben.
Wasnae that a dainty hen?
Dance, Katie Beardie.
Katie Beardie had a wean
Widnae play oot in the rain.
Wasnae that a dainty wean?
Dance, Katie Beardie.
Katie Beardie had a cat,
Sleek and sly and unco fat.
Wasnae that a dainty cat?
Dance, Katie Beardie.
Anonymous
See over the page for all the ways we are celebrating
Burns today at the National Museum of Scotland.
Burns
Unbound
Sunday 22 January 2017
Grand Gallery performances
11:45–12:15 Loud Poets
Modern spoken word from award-winning local poets.
13:15–16:00 Traditional Music and Dance
Foot-stomping Scottish music and dance from Live Music Now Scotland artists
Aonach Mor, Jeana Leslie & Adam Brown and Barluath with compere Gary Innes.
11:00, 12:00, 13:00 Traditional Tunes for Tiny People
(Hawthornden Court, 30 mins)
Join Live Music Now Scotland musicians for a tuneful activity for ages 3
and under. Limited spaces, sign up at entrance to Hawthornden Court.
12:30 and 15:00 Oor Rabbie
(Auditorium, 60 mins)
A playful family storytelling performance in celebration of Rabbie Burns.
Recommended for ages 7 and up.
11:30 and 14:00 Ceilidh Kids
(Hawthornden Court, 30 mins)
Fun ceilidh moves for families with children aged 3+.
11:00 –16:00 Burns-themed crafts and Scots storybook corner
(Event Space, Level 2)
Make a mouse, decorate your own Burns-themed greeting card or settle down
with a Scots language story book in our reading nook.
Burns Unbound is supported through Scotland’s Winter Festivals, a programme of events
managed by EventScotland, part of VisitScotland, on behalf of the Scottish Government.