Celebration of the birth and legacy of Robert (Rabbie) Burns

That this House notes and celebrates the 263rd anniversary of the birth of Robert (Rabbie) Burns, Scotland’s National Bard, in Alloway on 25 January 1759; notes that he is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic literacy movement, and after his death became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism and a cultural icon in Scotland and among the Scottish diaspora; further notes that he was a poet and lyricist who penned the words of Auld Lang Syne, which is sung across the globe on New Year’s Eve; notes that he wrote over 700 other poems and songs including Tam O’Shanter, Ae Fond Kiss, To a Mouse, Scots Wa Hae, A Red, Red Rose and A Man’s a Man for A’ That, and whose work has been translated into more than 40 languages and his memory honoured by more than 50 official statues including in the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Russia and Estonia; and further notes that he has had his image portrayed on postage stamps, banknotes and coins in a number of countries and whose life, works and immortal memory are celebrated at Burn’s Suppers across the world by millions of people on 25 January every year.