Forthill Burns Celebrations

Robert Burns was born in 1759, two miles south of Ayrshire.  He was born in a house built by his father which is now known as the Burns Cottage Museum.  His surname was Burness until 1786.  Burns died in 1796 at the age of  37.

Robert Burns wrote poems and songs such as;

1771:  "Handsome Nell", "Ah, Woe Is Me, My Mother Dear"
1785:  "The Cotter's Saturday Night", "Address to the Deil"
1786:  "Address to Edinburgh", "Address to a Haggis", "Farwell to the Banks of Ayr"
1793:  "A Grace After Meal", "Republican Army", "Epigram on Politics"

The Burns Supper is usually held close to 25th January.  The Burns Supper celebrates the birth of Robert Burns 250 years ago.  They are held in lots of countries around the world.  To celebrate the Burns Supper some people have haggis, tatties and neeps for tea.  This is a wonderful Scottish dish.      


On Friday 30th January, Forthill has a Burns Concert.  The winners of the different competitions sing Burns songs, recite poems and play instruments to the audience of children and staff.  The older winners recite some of Robert Burns’ best poems such as “Address to a Haggis”, “To a Mouse”, “Address to a Toothache” and “Willy Wastle”.

The Burns concert is really fun for all us.  The P.1 children sing Scottish songs such as “You Canny Shove Your Granny Aff The Bus” and ‘”Three Craws Sat Upon A Wa”.   We all sing songs such as “Ally Bally” and some pupils play songs on instruments  It is great listening to friends playing tunes you’ve only really heard on the radio or TV.  We recite Scottish poems but in P6 and 7 it must be a Burns poem.  The Burn’s Day celebrations happen every year.  We all have great fun.  There are lots of things to do.

Our thoughts about our celebrations:

It’s good to be taking part. 
It makes you feel proud as it’s part of Scottish History.
It’s fun performing.
I felt nervous!
It’s really fun to entertain.
It’s enjoyable but you hope you will be OK on the day!

Here are some photographs of this year's winners:


Andrew in P7 has written a poem called “Tae A Sheep” in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of Robert Burns. We hope you like it!

Yir fluffy coat wid make me grin,
Ye never worry about onything,
But one day when it was door and din,
A farmer came and took your skin,
Haggis was to be made o’ ye,
Ye poor wee fluffy sheep.

When they hear that word
They shriek, they crumble
They cra into a ba’
They stagger, they stumble
As one by one they disappear,
Ye poor wee fluffy sheep.

Some people just pit you in a fence,
Thinking you’re just beasties wi no sense,
Some kill sheep, I don’t know how they could
Ye see, in meh mind,
Sheep are friends, no food!

 By Andrew