I am keen to inform that there are aloso alternative celebrations starting to appear, this time in the name of Burns' partner Jean Armour - this exceptional lady was in relationship with the poet for many years (when her father heard that she is with child courtesy of the bard, he simply fainted and then refused Jean to marry Burns and the more I read poet's biography the more I can understand Mr Armour unwillingness to become his father-in-law) .
Jean and Robert had nine children together (he had another four by other women so he was not just interested in writing odes to haggis or drinking until collapsing - how very Scottish), the last of whom was born on the day of his funeral in July 1796.
He died due to a heart failure at 37, in debt but she survived him for 38 more years and witnessed his growing fame and fortune as he became a sort of a Princess Di of romantic period in Scotland.
I hope she became very rich, got herself lots of nice shoes and went on some holidays into warmer climates. Leaving all these painfull (or happy - it often depends) memories behind.
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