Burns Night recipes, how to cook Burns Night supper on January 25th, the annual event celebrating Scotland's most famous poet, Robert Burns: cock-a-leekie soup, Cullen Skink, Scotch Broth, haggis neeps and tatties, cranachan, whisky and more

What is Burns Night?

Burns Night is a celebration held on January 25th in honour of 18th century Scottish poet Robert Burns,  on the anniversary of his birthday. 

The first Burns Night supper was eaten for the first time on January 29 1802, as this was thought to be the poet's birthday, but parish records later revealed that the poet was in fact born on January 25th.

What is a Burns Supper?

Over the years, it transformed into a nationwide event involving recitals of the poet's work and a haggis dinner.

The full ritual of the night involves whisky, haggis neeps and tatties and poetry readings, often with cock-a-leekie or Scotch broth starter and cranachan - cream raspberries, oats and whisky - as a desert.