What is Burns Night?

On 25 January Scottish people will be celebrating Burns Night.

It's an important date in the calendar but why?

Read Newsround's quick guide to the special day.

What is it?

Burns Night is a festival to celebrate Scotland's most famous poet - a man called Robert Burns.

He produced hundreds of poems, songs and letters and if you sing 'Auld Lang Syne' at New Year celebrations, Robert Burns wrote that!

Burns Night is a celebration of the life and work of the man in this picture, Robert Burns

He was born on 25 January 1759 in a village called Alloway in Scotland.

This is why Burns Night is celebrated on 25 January - because it was his birthday.

He died on 21 July 1796, aged 37.

How is it celebrated?

Haggis is traditionally eaten on Burns Night, along with mashed turnips ("neeps") and potatoes ("tatties")

One of the main ways that Burns Night is celebrated is with a very traditional meal.

This includes Scottish haggis, served up with mashed turnips (called "neeps") and potatoes (called "tatties"), which are traditionally mashed too.

Haggis is a bit like spicy mince, made with bits of meat that you might not normally eat, like sheep's intestines! It also has onion, stock and other things in it too.

There are traditional puddings too. For example, shortbread or a creamy dessert called cranachan.

Traditional Scottish music may be played on bagpipes

People who want to be really traditional might even follow an official running order for their evening, with speeches, poems and music at specific times.

Others might choose to have a quieter evening with a poetry reading.

There may also be dancing and traditional Scottish music played on bagpipes.

How will 2021 be different?

For Burns Night 2021 Scotland will still be under a national lockdown.

This means that many of the usual Burns night activities won't be happening.

Big Burns Nights dinners have been cancelled and lots of family gatherings too.

Lots of people will be taking their celebrations online and others celebrating with their own households.

However it is celebrated it is sure to be fun!

How will you be celebrating? Let us know in the comments below.

Now test your knowledge with Newsround's quiz about Scotland!