Thursday, October 1, 2026
The North Shore Historical Museum celebrated Burns night, a celebration of the famous Bard of Scotland, Robert Burns, and all things Scottish. The annual festivities are a welcome excuse for a feast, music, dancing, and boasting about Scotland’s cultural contribution to the world.
Burns Night is considered Scotland’s other national day, alongside St. Andrew’s Day in November. The museum’s Jan. 24 event was a rare chance to see champion fiddler Calum Pasqua and performer David McCormick. Pasqua is known as the first American invited to, and win, the Glenfiddich Fiddle Championship held at Blair Castle in Scotland. McCormick has been widely received for his annual performances at Mohonk Mountain Houses Scottish weekend.
Burns is widely celebrated as the greatest Scottish poet, and one of the renowned poets in history. He wrote his first poem at 16 and wrote more than 700 poems and songs throughout his life.
The first Burns Night was celebrated over 200 years ago, when nine of Burns’ close friends gathered to mark the fifth anniversary of their friend’s death. It took place at Burns Cottage in Alloway and included a meal of haggis and performances of Burns’ work. The celebration’s popularity has only grown over the years.
Burns, known familiarly as “Rabbie” in Scotland, was a pioneer of the Romantic Movement known for capturing the sound and soul of rural Scotland and Scottish history in the late 18th century. Burns was a champion of the Scots language at a time when it was not popular in literary circles. Many of his works became famous, such as “Auld Lang Syne,” while his influence is sprinkled throughout the American consciousness. John Steinbeck’s famous novel “Of Mice and Men,” which takes its name from a line of Burns’ poetry, is a well-known example of his influence.
Burns was going to move from Scotland to Jamaica but decided against this when sales of his poetry collection “Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect” also known as the Kilmarnock Volume, took off. He moved to Edinburgh instead, where a second edition of his poetry book was published. For all his fame, Burns never forgot his humble roots. His love for farming stayed with him throughout his life and his writing often dealt with issues affecting the poorer classes, notably highlighting the need for greater social equality.
Burns Night, traditionally held on his birthday Jan. 25, is an unofficial national celebration in Scotland and is widely celebrated in parts of America and other former British colonies with many Scottish descendants. While the museum’s Burns Night didn’t take place on the poet’s birthday, it had many of the classic features of traditional Burns Nights, including a wide range of fresh Scottish delicacies.
The evening also featured music and vocal performances by Glen Cove’s own Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews and Jim Stevenson-Mathews.
Stevenson-Mathews is descendent from Scots who settled in the Cape Fear region of the Carolinas and is often called on to perform his Scottish repertoire at Highland games and festivals.
Pianist Jim Stevenson-Mathews is a founding member of the Scottish dance band Highland Oasis and frequently performs with contra dance band Fish Family.
