EDINBURGH 25 Jan - 30 Nov 2009 Scotland throws 250th birthday party for poet

Scotland celebrates the 250th birthday of Robert Burns, a favorite son, on Jan 25. The global birthday party for the poet targets more than 100 million people with some form of blood link to Scotland. The birthday kicks off Homecoming Scotland, which ends on St. Andrew's Day in November. There will be some 300 gatherings for Scottish clans from all over the world during the Homecoming. The Treasury will mint a 2-Pound coin for the birthday.

The Homecoming is being promoted as Scotland's biggest-ever tourism drive and "a global birthday party like no other." Some 10,000 of the visitors are expected at the gathering of the clans in Holyrood Park in July, the biggest single event of the Homecoming.

Considered Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns was born to poor tenant farmers in Alloway in Ayrshire on Jan 25, 1759. The author of “Auld Lang Syne,” Burns became famous after he published his first volume of poetry, written in the Ayrshire dialect of Lowland Scots. When he died at age 37, 10,000 people turned out for the funeral. Every year, many Scots celebrate the birthday with a ritual dinner of haggis and scotch whisky.

Scottish government figures hope the homecoming will boost the economy at a time of need. Tessa Jowell, the British culture minister, admitted in December that Britain faced a recession "deeper than any we have known."

Alloway will host a night-time event, with famous landmarks being brought to life by special effects and performances. More than 400 official Burns Suppers have signed up across the globe – some in far-flung locations such as the Ukraine and Canada – to take part in a worldwide link-up to the event.

Other events under the Homecoming banner include the Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Celtic Connections and the Cowal Gathering and the 2009 Open golf championship, to be held at Turnberry in Ayrshire. Dec/08

RELATED READING:

Homecoming Scotland web
http://www.homecomingscotland2009.com/default.html

How Scotland's future rests on hero from the past (Scotsman 16 Dec 2008)
http://www.scotsman.com/latestnews/How-Scotland39s-future-rests-on.4795467.jp