An Edinburgh Burns Night at The Real Mary King’s Close. Join us for a unique Burns Night experience filled with poetry, history, Scottish dishes and Scotch whisky.
Explore the uniquely preserved streets and spaces underneath Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile, where you will learn about the city's dark past, listen to a recital of Burns poetry and raise a glass of whisky to Scotland's favourite son.
Follow your tour with an exquisite 4-course Taste of Scotland menu at Amber Restaurant, part of The Scotch Whisky Experience, located on The Royal Mile.
Why celebrate Burns Night?
Every year the people of Scotland celebrate Burns Night. The evening commemorates the life of the poet Robert Burns (January 25 1759 – July 21 1796). Even if you are unfamiliar with the Scottish poet, you are bound to know of his poem ‘Auld Lang Syne’. That’s right, the song we sing every New Year was written by Burns himself.
Burns Night events have been happening since 1801, just five years after the poet died in 1796. The first Burns Night was held when the celebrated poet’s friends gathered together to mark the anniversary of the great man’s death. It was then decided that a feast would be held every year in his honour.
It’s a fantastic reason for friends and families to get together and eat, drink, and of course read the poetry of Scotland’s National Bard. There are many traditions associated with Burns Night, including a reading of his poem, the ‘Selkirk Grace’:
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.