Welcome Message

First Minister, the Right Honourable Alex Salmond MP MSP.

This month we are celebrating Scotland's national bard, Rabbie Burns. All over Scotland, and the world, people are organising Burns Suppers and ceilidhs celebrating the poet with a supper of haggis, neeps and tatties.

Burns Night brings all of Scotland's cultures together to celebrate our country's national poet, beloved songwriter and cultural ambassador. The range of Burns' work is vast. Writing in the late eighteenth century, he dealt with major themes of his day such as politics and the role of the Kirk; as well as the eternal questions of love, social justice and nationhood.

The Scotland of Burns' day owed him much. Burns not only helped to restore Scots' pride and confidence in the nation. He also did his best to support the Scots language when it was under threat. Published in 1786, the 'Kilmarnock volume' – or Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish dialect – contained some of Burns' best work and it was a timely boost for Scotland's language and culture.

Modern Scots also owe a debt to Rabbie Burns. As one of our nation's greatest figures, he embodies many of our distinctive qualities: compassion, humanity and a passion for learning – as well as a sharp wit and an urge to question conventional wisdom. When we honour Rabbie Burns, we don't simply remember a great poet and songwriter. We also pay homage to a man of enduring vision and values; a Scot who showed us our uniqueness and our huge potential.

The celebration of our national Bard doesn't end at our shores. Events will be held across the world. From St Andrews to St Petersburg, Burns is celebrated in every corner of the globe. The Bard's universality is shown by the number of events today, remembering him with a dram of whisky, Burns Supper, and recital of his inspiring poetry.

This year, Burns Night will also close Scotland's first ever Winter Festival. Looking back to the wonderful events we have held for St Andrew's Day and Hogmanay, the Winter Festival has been a huge success for our nation. I am greatly looking forward to the celebrations in years to come and to our Homecoming 2009 celebrations –www.homecomingscotland.com.

Here's to Burns, his enduring legacy, his pride in our nation and his inspiration for our Homecoming celebrations – for auld lang syne.

Yours for Scotland

Alex Salmond MP MSP, First Minister of Scotland