Something for the Weekend - Robbie Burns Day - St Alfege with St Peter's CE Primary School

Hi everyone!

Have you ever heard of Robbie Burns Day? You haven't? Not to worry because this weekend you'll have a chance to learn all about it!

Every year around January the 25th, Scottish people all around the world celebrate Burns Day to commemorate the life and work of Robert Burns, one of the most important poets in the history of Scotland! But before we dive deeper, let’s find out a bit more about Robert Burns. Click on the link below.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/16722720

This is Robbie Burns. Do you notice anything interesting about his picture?

Yes! It's a painting. This is because Robbie Burns was born on the 25th of January 1759 . Cameras were not invented until approximately the year 1816 so the only way to record how people looked was by painting them. This was a long process, and some portraits would take as long as a year to be completed and delivered to the client!

Maybe you can have a go at drawing your own self portrait or drawing somebody in your family! Click on the links below for some ideas:

https://youtu.be/s3TikcVkFow

https://youtu.be/IRp3sBQ-NFU

https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/how-to-draw-a-portrait/zk28qp3

Burns Night is celebrated in nearly 150 countries worldwide.

Have a look on this interactive map to see how many places you recognize.

https://www.scotland.org/events/burns-night/interactive-map-of-burns-suppers

Auld Lang Syne

As you have learnt so far, Robbie Burns was one of the most brilliant Scottish poets ever born. He not only wrote poems but also a song that is recognised in many countries around the world: Auld Lang Syne. This song is sang by many people on New Year’s Eve to welcome in the year ahead.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mCWIsmSFN8

We have discovered that Auld Lang Syne is the third most sung song in the world, and we have a challenge for you! Can you find out what the first and second most sung songs in the world are?

Haggis

To celebrate Burns Night, Scots prepare a very special meal including Haggis and Neeps and Tatties. Have you ever tried this type of food?

Robbie Burns wrote a famous poem called ‘Address to a Haggis’ and it is now recited during Burns Night before the food is shared. Have a look at this interesting and peculiar ceremony at Edinburgh Castle:

https://youtu.be/5VFIIABZVzk

Don’t forget to say your prayer before you eat your haggis!!

Some hae meat and canna eat,

And some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat,

Sae let the Lord be Thankit!

You can learn many more interesting facts about Burns Night here:

https://www.visitscotland.com/about/famous-scots/robert-burns/burns-night/

Did you know that one of our teachers in school is Scottish? Can you guess who it is?

Here are some other activities that you and your family can enjoy over the weekend!

1. Discuss with your grown up what a clan is and check out the link below, putting in you surname and see if you belonged to a clan. Miss Page belongs to the Murray clan!

http://scotclans.com/

2. Design your own tartan, by cutting coloured paper into strips and weaving them together in different patterns. You can colour your own paper strips, use paint or drawn your tartan.

3. Play the haggis target game:

A pretend haggis made from an old pair of tights, socks or whatever you can find to make a soft ball
Draw a chalk target on the floor
Take it in turns to roll the 'haggis' at the target to see how many points you can get!