Robbie Burns Day a chance to celebrate bard's poetry

Attentionfans of poetry, Scotland and haggis: today is RobbieBurns Day.

To celebrate, we're sharingfascinating facts about the bard so you can impress your friends.

Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland, 257 years ago today. He was raised poor on a farm, but his father put aside enough money to hire a teacher for his son.

It paid off. Burnslived to only37, but his words and thoughts are woven into our world today. It's about 100 per cent certainyou have quoted or sung his words yourself.

Five famous quotes:

Five Burns facts

1. There are more statues of Robert Burns around the world than any other non-religious person, exceptQueen Victoria and Christopher Columbus.
2. Bob Dylan says the source of his greatest inspiration was Burns's song A Red Red Rose.
3. The classic novels Catcher In The Ryeby J.D. Salinger andJohn Steinbeck's Of Mice and Mentake their titles from poems by Burns.
4. The Guinness World Records bookrecognizes Auld Lang Syneas the third most popular song in the world, after Happy Birthdayand For He's a Jolly Good Fellow.
5. Michael Jackson was a huge fan, recording many of Robert Burns's songs. Producer David Gest and Jackson worked on the idea of creating a work of art based on Burns's work. The idea inspired a musical,Robert Burns: The Musical.

What's your favourite Burns poetry? Share it in the comments below.