Burns Night: First Minister letter to Scotland’s diaspora - January 2025
A letter from First Minister to the Scottish Connections community around the world, as they celebrate Burns Night.
As First Minister of Scotland I would like to wish our valued members of Scotland’s diaspora a very happy Burns Night.
Robert Burns’ words may have been penned in Scotland but they are famous the world over for his universal, compelling sentiments about love, compassion and our common humanity.
Every year we come together with people across the world to celebrate Burns and dine following the traditional ‘Address to a Haggis’.
This celebration illustrates Scotland’s essence by embracing tradition and offering the opportunity for more people to connect with Scotland – whether Scottish by heritage or ancestry, having lived in Scotland at any time, having links through business or education, or simply with a strong affinity for Scotland’s culture – all are welcome to have a dram in honour of Burns.
In the work that you do– our fellow Scots and friends and family of Scotland – we recognise the outstanding progress and achievements you have made in supporting our unique culture, creativity and world-leading education.
Whether you bring people together for Burns Suppers and ceilidhs, mark the achievements of our thriving business and alumni networks, showcase Scotland’s thriving arts scene, or celebrate (or commiserate with!) our national football teams this collaboration is invaluable for reaffirming Scotland’s reputation around the world as a welcoming and creative nation.
We welcome you warmly to visit, study, invest or simply enjoy all that Scotland has to offer and we congratulate you for your continuous efforts to connect with and promote our culture and impact worldwide.
“Here's a health to them that's awa,
And here's to them that's awa!”
Yours sincerely,
John Swinney
Celebrating your Scottish Connections
Scotland opens its arms to anyone who wishes to join us in these celebrations.
We see Scotland’s diaspora as an extension of Scotland itself. Whether you are Scottish by heritage or ancestry, have lived in Scotland at any time, have links through business or education, or simply have a strong affinity for Scotland’s culture – all are welcome in our international community of Scottish connections.
You may know that we have recently launched two new online tools for Scotland’s diaspora community to help you be better connected than ever.
Anyone with a Scottish connection can register to join us online and receive news and updates for our diaspora community via email.
We have also launched a Community Directory, which lists organisations across the globe with a Scottish link so you can find your nearest groups and events wherever you are.
For more information on these tools, visit www.scotland.org/globalcommunity.
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