BOWDEN – For 260 years people around the world have celebrated the life and work of renowned Scottish poet and lyricist Robert Burns.
The famed Scotsman was born on Jan. 25,1759.
Grade 4 students at Bowden Grandview School marked the occasion with the 22nd annual Burns in Bowden event that featured Scottish music, poetry, dance and food on Jan. 18.
“Why do we gather on or near January 25th every year, and not just in Bowden, but around the planet,” said Bill Whitehead, teacher. “Robert Burns was born 260 years ago in a faraway place in Scotland."
The event also included the piping of the haggis, Highland dancing and the address to the haggis, as read by Innisfail piper Michael McLetchie.
Whitehead, a fifth generation Scot himself, noted the unique learning opportunity such an event provides his students.
“They’re going to recite some poetry about relationships and about love, about patriotism and really old-fashioned lasting value subjects,” he said, noting the importance of sharing and passing on such literary traditions. “I think it’s of lasting value.”
In addition to poetry reading and a toast, students also had an opportunity to try some Scottish haggis and other Scottish foods, and in keeping with the theme of the celebration, each student wore a Scottish tartan.
“Even though they wear their own tartans and plaids, everybody gets a tartan today,” said Whitehead, noting students wore tartans from several Canadian provinces.
“We’ve got five provincial tartans here and kids get to pick which one they want to wear,” he added, noting the provinces of Manitoba, Quebec, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and Alberta were all represented.
Whitehead pointed out the strong historical connection between Scotland and Canada.
“In my opinion there’s never been a single country that’s done so much to make Canada the wonderful country it is today as Scotland has,” he said. “It just seems fitting that we honour this greatest of all Scottish poets because of all Scotland has done for us.
“The subjects of his poetry run the gamut from love and nature, to nationalism and patriotism and the essential brotherhood of man.
"I think everybody can identify with these subjects,” Whitehead concluded.
