The word clan comes from the Gaelic “clann”, meaning children. Despite this literal translation, clan members were not all biologically related. A Scottish clan can be better thought of as many small, tight knit families living closely in community, usually under a chief. Although familial associations exist, old Scottish clans were more like a village of many families than a single biological family, although usually one biological family could be found at the center of the clan.

As Sir Walter Scott and other authors of the 18th Century romanticized old Scottish culture, myths and misconceptions regarding the clans of the highlands abounded. It was during this time that the public began to equate surname with clan. This led to the widespread belief that all clansmen were members of the same lineage, directly descending from the original clan chief, which simply isn’t true. Although in modern times there is an official clan registry and structural system recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon, the old clans were much less structured. The Scottish clans which became prominent by at least the 12th Century were bound by the land upon which they lived, the chief whom they served and a willingness to fight on behalf of the clan. Here are some facts that you might not have known about Scottish clans.

1 -  NOT ALL CLANS HAVE A CHIEF

Some clans don’t have a chief. These are referred to as Armigerous clans. These clans may have had a chief at one time and are registered with the court of Lyons but do not currently have a chief. Some clans, referred to as septs, were dependent clans who acknowledged another clan as chief. Usually a sept would come under another clan’s chief for sustenance and protection. This nearly always was a result of the proximity of one clan to a more powerful one. Sept groups either kept their surname while pledging their allegiance to the chief of the larger clan, or took on the clan name.

2 - THE CONCEPT OF TARTAN REPRESENTING CLAN IS RELATIVELY NEW (Thank Queen Victoria)

As the romanticizing of Scotland was perpetuated by Sir Walter Scott and others in the 18th Century, tartan came to be thought of as a plaid representing a specific clan. Although It’s true that highlanders wore different colors and patterns, historically this was usually a result of the available materials in that area as well as local trends. Tartan was often made of simple blocks with 2 colors in a checkered pattern. After the Dress Act was withdrawn, a flurry of interest in all things Scottish brought about this sentimental interpretation of the highland dress from the previous decade. “Bamoralism”, or the popularization of Scottish culture and fashion in English society, is a direct result of Queen Victoria’s obsession with all things Scottish in the late 1800’s.

3- THE IDEA THAT CLANS WERE EXCLUSIVE TO THE HIGHLANDS IS A CONSTRUCTION OF VICTORIAN-ERA ROMANTICISM OF SCOTTISH CULTURE

Clans weren’t only in the highlands. The common misconception that Scottish clans were exclusively from the Highlands is another construct of the romanticizing of Scottish culture in the Victorian era.

4 - THE INFAMOUS “RED WEDDING” EPISODE OF GAME OF THRONES IS BASED ON THE SLAUGHTER OF THE MACDONALD CLAN FOR BEING A FEW DAYS LATE IN SWEARING ALLEGIANCE TO KING WILLIAM.

In the Game of Thrones episode entitled “The Red Wedding”, the Stark family and most of their soldiers are slaughtered at the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey in a total betrayal. R.R. Martin, creator of the show, says that the episode was inspired by the Massacre of Glencoe in 1692, during which soldiers led by Captain Robert Campbell asked the MacDonalds for shelter for him and his men due to a full nearby fort. The MacDonalds obliged, having them for nearly two weeks before being slaughtered. The soldiers said goodnight to the MacDonalds after playing cards and then slaughtered as many as they could. It was said to be especially barbarous because it was a “Slaughter under trust”

5 - THE CLAN SYSTEM LIKELY OUT-DATES THE WORD “CLANN” (GAELIC FROM WHICH CLAN IS DERIVED)

The clan system of Scotland not only out-dates the word from which the English is derived, but Scotland itself. Scotland was born in 843AD, but before this time, groups of settlers from the mysterious Picts of the North to the Saxons in the Southwest were forming groups encompassing more than a single biological family. This makes it especially difficult to pinpoint the beginning of the clan system, but clans were in existence by at least the 1100’s, shortly after the birth of Scotland itself. It was during the 12 ^th Century that scholars all agree the Scottish clan system as we think of it was in full swing.

6 - CLAN CAMPBELL HATED THE MACGREGORS SO MUCH, THEY BRED A SPECIAL DOG TO HUNT THEM

In addition to publicly beheading MacGregors for entertainment while eating dinner, the Campbell clan burned with a special hatred for clan MacGregor. The Campbell’s even bred a special dog, nursed by suckling women from the MacGregor clan , to hunt and kill MacGregor clan members more effectively. The Campbells believed that by nursing from a MacGregor woman from birth, these dogs would be able to pick up on the MacGregor scent more efficiently. Now that's a BAD DOG.

7 - THE FIRST PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA WAS A MACDONALD....AND THE SECOND WAS A MACKENZIE

The influence of Scottish clans extends far out into the world. There are as many MacDonalds living in North America as there are living in Scotland. Canada was heavily influenced by Scottish culture from the very beginning. From Mackenzie Bay in Yukon to Nova Scotia which literally means "New Scotland" in Latin, the power and character of the clans of Scotland can't be contained. The culture and history are just too rich.

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THE TARTAN JOURNEY

The story of modern Scottish tartan begins in the bygone world of 18th Century regiments and clans. The name tartan comes from a Gaelic word meaning "across”, which eventually merged with the word braelic, meaning colorful fabric. Today we just refer to the unique cloth as tartan. This ancient colorful wool, although not always referred to as tartan, has made a journey from ancient Celtic culture to modern times to boast its proud patterns loudly from the modern wool upon which it is woven.The cultural and historic weight of the tartan cannot be restricted to the 13 or 16 ounces of cloth on which it is displayed! The story of Scottish tartan is fascinating and long. It begins on the backs of sheep and makes a unique journey which ends as beautiful yards of perfectly produced, amazingly colorful and diverse wool tartan.

Heirloom quality Scottish tartan begins with quality wool. It’s been this way for centuries. Although still a complex process, the industrial revolution helped make lighter work of the infamously tedious task of tartan cloth production. The first mechanical wool weaving machine was invented in 1539 and is known as a stocking frame; and it made wool weaving a much faster process.                                                                        

Even so, wool manufacturing was still a time consuming process which required many helpers and a lot of time. In Scotland, entire families would work at wool production. Modern technology and computing have carried the industry a long way from the antique machinery of the 16th Century and has once again changed the way that wool fabric is made. Although much easier than in previous times, tartan production is still a fragile process that requires meticulous attention to detail.

SOME THINGS NEVER CHANGE

Despite technological advances in the textile industry, the bare bones of wool production are the same as they ever were. It begins with sheering. A master sheerer can sheer up to 200 sheep in a single day! Although there have been attempts at robotic advancement in this field, the vast majority of sheep sheering is done by humans. After being sheered, the 6-18 lbs of wool is kept together in a single piece. It then moves on to the grading phase of production where the fibers are sorted by texture, length and strength. After this the wool is scoured, or cleaned and its lanolin extracted to be used in dish soap, creams and various other products.

WOOL IS NOT ALL CREATED EQUAL!

The type of fabric created by wool is determined by the density of the yarn threads being used in production. A sheep has different naturally occurring fibers that grow on different parts of its body. The shoulder hair for instance is known for being longer and finer. These finer hairs are often used for producing material used in scarves and stoles. Other fibers are used to make different weights of wool which end up as kilts made of either 10, 13 or 16 oz. The weight of the fabric is determined by the density of the yarn used. Wool manufacturing in general is very complicated, but the production of top quality, flawless tartan with its endless combinations of patterns, colors, vertical and horizontal stripes is especially difficult. Close inspection of high quality, Scottish-born tartan reveals the detail and care woven into each square centimeter.

Click to view Claymore Import's tartan cloth by the yard.

GOOD TIMES START WITH WINING AND DINING BUT GOOD TARTAN STARTS WITH WINDING AND DYEING!

From the vibrant dark blues and greens of modern tartans to the more sedated shades found in ancient and muted tartan patterns, it all begins as creamy white wool yarn otherwise known as ecru yarn (although the word ecru is derived from French and can apply to any naturally white or beige yarn fiber, authentic tartan is always made of wool). Once the wool fibers have been scoured (cleaned), sorted and made into yarn, it is then transported to the tartan manufacturer where the journey from a simple collection of beige fibers to historic tartan fabric begins.

In most modern wool production facilities, the ecru wool yarn is wound around special flexible cones in preparation of being saturated with whatever color the tartan requires. In the early days of tartan, berries and other naturally occurring dyes were used to color the wool yarn. This is why “ancient” tartans are similar to modern, with much less saturated and vibrant colors. Modern tartans are vibrant in a way that is exclusive to modern textile production. The availability of new dyes afford us much brighter colors than were once available. Wool is more exquisite than acrylic or cotton and requires dye with a specific pH balance. Not only does the dye need to be pH balanced, but it must remain consistent in its hue and vibrancy.

After the yarn has been dyed, it is then placed in a spin dryer. This removes much of the moisture from the freshly dyed wool. After this first pass, the freshly colored yarn is transferred into an oven where it is further dried at around 160 F. The trick here is not to dry it too much! Ideally, 10% of the moisture should remain when the wool is finished drying to keep it pliable for the next phases of production.

YOU'RE SERIOUSLY WARPED

The perpendicular patterns of tartan fabric tell a story rich in history, clan pride and tradition and it all starts with the warp. The warp consists of long pieces of yarn that are arranged in a specific order unique to the tartan for which it will be used. The warp is what determines the overall size of the finished fabric. This process, unlike nearly anything else in the textile industry, is still done by hand. The endless possibility of color combinations in a tartan make its warping more in depth than nearly any other fabric. The warp patterns can become extremely complex.

This meticulously tedious stage of tartan production is part of the reason that it can become very expensive to have a particular tartan made if it is not already in the que of production. These are referred to as “custom weaves” and require a significant amount of resources to create. However, even the most common tartans, such as Black Watch, require a carefully constructed warp before it can move on to the weaving stage of production.

WEAVING TRADITION BOTH LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY

Although the word weave is often used to describe the entire process of tartan fabric production, it is actually only a portion of the process. During this phase of production, yarn called the weft is interlaced with the threads in the warp to create the perpendicular pattern required to create the tartan. Essentially, these are the horizontal threads that are woven into the longer threads called the warp. The vernacular may sound foreign, but the essence of the process is relatively simple. Long threads are stretched out, and then other threads are woven perpendicularly. Modern tartan weavers have computers with special software which guide the process of the weave. Although, the process is much simpler than a hundred years ago, tartan manufacturing still requires great care and precision.

Each individual warp thread is drawn through shafts on to the loom where they are knotted. This process is very sensitive. Every warp yarn must be accurately placed into the shafts so the weave can be properly executed. These shafts are mechanically synchronized to raise and lower the strands of warp so that the weft can be quickly and efficiently interlaced. The weft yarn is threaded in between the warp as one strand is raised and the other lowered. Each thread passes through a special loop shaped pin called a dropper. If a thread happens to break, the dropper through which the yarn is laced will do its job; it will drop and grind the loom to a halt. This gives the overseer of the loom an opportunity to fix the broken strand and continue with the weave.

                        Immediately after passing through the shafts, the loom reed pushes the yarn from the warp and the weft firmly together. This automated process is when the aesthetically recognizable tartan fabric is born. The loom, like the womb, gives birth. The loom however gives birth to different clan tartans and does so every day. The use of computers and machines helps this ancient process to be faster and more efficient without compromising the integrity of this ancient Scottish tradition.

What is the Sporran?

The sporran sits front and center of the kilt outfit as a proud article of highland wear unlike any other in the world. Although its purpose is universal, its style and grace are as explicitly unique as the history of Scotland itself. The word “sporran” comes from the Gaelic word for purse. Functionally it is a kilt-wearers substitution for pockets, which are absent from the Scottish kilt. These iconic Scottish articles of Highland heritage typically hang in front of the groin of the wearer attached with a chain or leather strap (Grange, 1978) (Museums, 2016). Just as the kilt made the journey from the ancient Celtic world, becoming the belted plaid and eventually the walking kilt in the late 18th Century, the sporran’s evolutionary timeline runs parallel with the kilt. Both the kilt and sporran were born of necessity and adorned later on. Despite their utilitarian nature, sporrans have historically represented profound significance while simultaneously doing the plain work of holding stuff!

The Way Back

Despite the lack of solid historical documentation, there is one clear fact regarding the ancient origin of the sporran: it’s been around as long as the kilt in some context. Whether it is for holding throwing stones, a knife, rations of oats or a cell phone the sporran serves a clear purpose, to hold stuff. Tracing the origin of sporrans eventually becomes the same as tracing the origin of the need to carry things. The path becomes obscure, the details blurry and the trail eventually lost. Sporran’s may have been a remnant of ancient Pict or Gael culture prior to the 10th Century, at which point they merged to form the Kingdom of Alba (Scotland) (Grange, 1978). Record keeping in Ancient Scotland wasn’t what it is today, but what is clear is that both used some form of a bag! The question is whether or not these ancient articles can be called a sporran. In the late 20th Century the same necessity that caused the emergence of the sporran gave birth to a similar, yet dramatically less cool, article that served the same purpose, THE FANNY PACK. Oh, baby. (That’s “bum bags” for our friends in the U.K.)

The Old Scrip

There are some indicators that the sporran has been around since the late 1000’s! In Guibert’s book the “Scottish Historical Review”, a translation of an account of the First Crusade characterizes the ancient Scots as being “fierce, wearing shaggy cloaks and a scrip hang ex humeris.” The word scrip here comes from the word sytarchia (Dunbar, 1992), a medieval word for the pouch carried by pilgrims. This quote is dated in the late 11th Century. There is no clear evidence that the uncovered state of the Scots legs here was indicative of kilt-wearing. Many enthusiasts of Scottish culture subscribe to the belief that this ancient quote is referencing the kilt outfit, which would make the bag described here a very old sporran, and certainly the first one mentioned in writing!

Later in the same account, Guibert is describing a “pack of devils” and describes them as “wearing their scrips in the manner of the Scots, hanging forward from their haunches”. Sounds like a sporran to us! Some historians dispute these quotes as dating the kilt to such early antiquity, with the contention that the author was referring to a leine, tunic or acton (Dunbar, The Costume of Scotland, 1992). Although there is no hard evidence, it seems just as likely that these quotes are referring to ancient Scots wearing some ancient form of the kilt! If this is the case, the sporran is a much older article of clothing than some historians give it credit for, even outdating the kilt. These early sporrans would certainly have been made of calf skin or deer hide (Museums, 2016).

A Big Jump

The sporran remained a simple, functional pouch from their earliest orientations until the late 16th Century. It was during this time that metal clasps and other metallic ornamentation began to accessorize the otherwise plain sporrans that had existed up until that point in time (Dunbar, 1992). It was around this time also that the sporran was beginning to be worn on the front of the outfit. These sporrans are wonderful antique examples of fashion and function colliding into something new altogether.

Black Watch to the Future

Although sporrans existed for a very long time before the 17th or 18th Centuries, their orientation changed considerably in the early 1800’s. Some of the shift can certainly be attributed to the unintended consequences of the Dress Act of 1746 which prohibited the traditional Highland Dress except for military regiment men who were allowed their native dress as their uniform. The sporran may have been one of the only enduring articles of traditional Scottish dress among the civilian community during the time of the Dress Act (1743-1784) (Grange, 1978). Unlike the kilt, shoulder-belts and other uniquely Highland garments, sporrans were not banned. After all, how do you make a bag illegal? Once the act was repealed in 1782 there began to be a growing romanticism surrounding the Highland dress of old that extended well beyond the borders of Scotland. The “small kilt” or walking kilt came into full swing by this time, with sporrans front and center both figuratively and literally. The sporran flourished at the center of the Scottish outfit becoming increasingly ornate and, at times, ostentatious.

The Black Watch’s, military regiment, early uniform included a small, practical sporran which was worn through the first half of the 18th Century, maintaining their function as a bag. However, by the 1820’s, all function had been overshadowed by the popularity of extreme ornamentation. The Dress Act was repealed in the late 1700’s and the popularity of the walking kilt became a phenomenon, bringing along with it the humble sporran.

By the 1820’s sporrans had become a metric of clout, becoming increasingly hairy, often incorporating gold tassels, and cantles (the metal top-piece) decorated with designs of thistles, badges, scrolls, and more. (Dunbar, The Costume of Scotland, 1992)

One of the unique features of the Scottish sporran making it so iconic are the tassels dangling proudly in the front. Many regimental sporrans that survived from the Victorian era are known for their dramatic hair and bold tassels. Each regiment had a unique sporran style that signified the wearer’s inclusion in the company. The Black Watch, for example, wore white hair sporrans with five or six black tassels, while the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders wore white sporrans with six tassels. This was customary for military sporrans. Usually there would be a top row of tassels that would dangle evenly joined with a lower second row dangling beneath. Hunting sporrans typically have no tassels for the simple fact that tassels dangle and make noise which is not conducive to a successful hunt. This tradition can be traced back to the early 20th Century, but there is no indication that this relatively modern style originated before that time.

From Humble to Over-the Top

The sporran reached the pinnacle of its flamboyance in the 1840’s and 50’s at which point some sporrans had an animal’s head as a flap and were so large that it extended from the waist-belt below the front kilt apron!

The tunic worn by Highland regiments after the Crimean War had to come equipped with a space between its two front flaps large enough to show the massive gaudy sporran (Grange, 1978). Civilian costume marched in step with that of the regiment in its increasing boisterousness. Some sporrans were even rigged with explosive devices that would be triggered if the sporran were not opened correctly. One of these that survived is on display and was the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott to give folk legend Rob Roy a similar one in his novel about the famous Scottish outlaw. This was a theft prevention mechanism but also- just plain badass!

Now

The sporran seems to have found the peak of its ornamentation in the 1850’s. In the decades to come, the sporran would temper itself with some of the humility which accompanied it prior to the mid-18th Century. Despite becoming tamer, the sporran certainly continues to be an ornate article of Highland dress that has evolved to several modern orientations landing all across the spectrum of formality. The sporran lives on. After all, there will always be stuff to carry around. Today, it’s more likely a daily portion of cell phones and car keys than oats and bullets!

One of the most iconic modern sporrans in existence is the dress sporran. These sporrans are typically larger than the less formal variety and much more ornate. Victorian-era dress sporrans can still be found in museums and in the collections of antique Scottish regalia enthusiasts. Modern dress sporrans often have ornate cantles with intricate etchings of Celtic knots, thistles, clan or even masonic symbols. Some cantles even come with encrusted jewels. These decorative cantles are mostly made from either pewter or silver. Dress sporrans come with either 3, 5, 6 or even 8 tassels made of leather or fur.

In modern Western culture there is a stratosphere of formality structured on the importance of a particular place or situation from casual to formal and several points in between. The same type of stratosphere in traditional Scottish clothing is what gave birth to the semi dress sporran.

Still ornate in appearance, these sporrans are typically less expensive and made of a hair hide rather than the loftier furs used in their parent dress sporrans. Semi dress sporrans usually have three tassels. Many even come with artistic etch work.

Day sporrans are usually made of brown or black leather that tout simple adornment sans-cantle. The closing mechanisms on these sporrans are different than other types. Although they still have tassels, day sporrans are made entirely of leather. The term “day sporran” comes from the 19th Century and simply reflects the fact that this was a workhorse designed to be worn from day-to-day due to their sturdy, leather structure. Formal clothing came with a lofty price tag and would only be worn on special occasions.

There are several other, lesser known varieties of sporrans as well, such as the horsehair sporran, which are worn by traditional Scottish pipe bands to this day. These are usually made of white horse hair and sport two black horse hair tassels. This style was the inverse of the 78th Regiment’s sporrans, which were black with white tassels. The style was designed to distinguish the band. There are also full face sporrans, which display an entire badgers head and facial features as a flap on the top, and hunting sporrans which are designed without tassels for the sake of stealth.

Mo' Tassels No Problem

Sporran styles have evolved throughout the centuries. There is no denying the change, but for better or worse is entirely subjective. One of the most notable differences between the sporrans manufactured today is the shortage of tassels. For centuries, sporrans donned an array of tassels. Some sporrans would have up to nine! Today, with the exception of horse-hair sporrans, it’s rare to find more than three tassels on a sporran. This reflects a shift in attitude from the past regarding the purpose of the sporran.

Simple Tassels

Although its primary function is to serve as a substitute for pockets, historically the sporran was also an icon of identity. Whether for announcing your regimental affiliation or just showing off, tassels and sporran style have definitely hit a peak of minimalism. Why? Does the boring nature of modern sporrans compared to those of the past reflect a stagnation in the style of Highland dress? Let’s bring back the tassels! Make sporrans great again!

Complex Tassels

Unplanned Obsolescence

Some modern kilt manufacturers and fashion icons, such as Howie Nicholsby, have questioned the continued necessity of the traditional sporran. Philosophically speaking, if the function of carrying things can be accomplished in a less obtrusive way, why not? Nicholsby’s company manufacturers modern tweed kilts that are often paired with leather boots and other non-traditional garbs all sans-sporran. Will streamlined design prove to be the end of the traditional sporran? It’s Doubtful. Although those modern kilts look great and serve a definitive role in the fashion world, it simply doesn’t replace the traditional Highlander uniform, nor does it attempt to. It’s a comparison of apples and oranges. The sporran will continue marching forward with the wind of its history at its back and the light of heritage shining on its face. What was born of necessity grew to be an article of clothing representing heritage and tradition steeped in cultural context. March on humble sporran.

Before literary success, Robert Burns was offered a job in Jamaica on a slave plantation as a bookkeeper. Fate intervened as Burns became a literary sensation and he moved to Edinburgh and became an anti-slavery advocate instead.It’s a good thing he never went to Jamaica - Who knows WHAT song we’d be ringing in the New Year with! The Macarena?

2. Burns may have written the most famous song in the English Language

Robert Burns wrote the lyrics to what is considered to be one of the most popular songs in the English Language: Auld Lang Syne - the New Years Song! The Guinness Book of World Records says that the song shares a league with “Happy Birthday” and “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” in universal popularity. The song has appeared in over 170 Hollywood films including “It’s A Wonderful Life” and “When Harry Met Sally.” This qualifies Burns as an authentic 18 ^th Century rock star!

3. Like most rock stars, Robert Burns had his short comings

Robert Burns was the eldest of seven boys. Their dad had high hopes for his children’s morals and even wrote them a pamphlet on the virtues of Christianity called "A Manual of Christian Belief." Despite this, Burns came to be known for his (cough cough) “ festive” lifestyle. His first child was conceived with his mother’s servant. Later in life, after experiencing many women, he married & started a family with his wife Jean who bore him 9 children. It's been said that there were 2 more children somewhere in between with 2 other women. Burns died at the early age of 37 due to rheumatic fever which was definitely exasperated by his rowdy lifestyle. Poetically, his youngest child was born during his funeral procession. Take that, Keith Richards!

4. Bob Dylan sites Robert Burns as his greatest influence!

Robert Burns’ influence transcends national borders and generations. Bob Dylan sited Rabbie as his single greatest influence. The revelation was discovered during the HMV “My Inspiration” campaign during which several musicians were asked to reveal the verse from a song that they had been most inspired by. Dylan quoted a line from Burns’ poem “A Red, Red Rose.” 

5. Michael Jackson was such a fan of Burns that he wrote a musical about him!

Stretching into the pinnacle of pop culture, Michael Jackson was keen on Burns’ influence in his work. Michael Jackson’s music video "Thriller" is said to have been based on Burns’ poem "Tam O’Shanter." Michael Jackson and Hollywood producer David Gest even wrote a musical about the life of Robert Burns! Although it was shelved more than twenty years ago, the musical came back to life in January 2015 and even made it to Broadway. Jackson had no role in the final production but is paid homage to and referenced throughout.

6. Famous authors have used phrases or concepts from Burns’ poems as the titles of their own famous works

JD Salinger took fame for the Burns-inspired title for his most famous work, “The Catcher in the Rye,” from Burns’ poem “Comin’ Thro’ the Rye.” Also, John Steinbeck’s book “Of Mice and Men” was named from a line in Burns’ piece, “To a Mouse.”

7. Tommy Hilfiger is the great-great-grand-nephew of Robert Burns

Tommy Hilfiger didn’t discover the identity of his long lost uncle until his twenties. When asked about his distant relationship, Hilfiger told Vogue magazine, “It was never discussed in my house because it was said that Robert Burns was a womanizer and a boozer. They were embarrassed he was related, so we weren’t told.”

8. There is a creepy life-size head of Robert Burns that came straight from your worst nightmare

In a documentary about Rabbie, forensic scientist Professor Caroline Wilkinson revealed a life-size model of the poet’s head. They made this disturbing replica using casts of Burns’ skull and contemporary portraits. If you’re brave enough, you can see the photo here: (We wouldn’t recommend it.) The head even has real side burns!

9. The image of Burns’ face can be found in a lot of places, from Coke bottles to money!

Robert Burns is the first person ever to have his face on a commemorative bottle of Coke in 2005 to celebrate his 250 ^th birthday! Also, his face is now on Scottish money, even though much of Burns’ poetry is about defending the poor! Oh, poetic irony!

10. This guy has got some statues!

There are more statues dedicated to Robert Burns than any other non-religious figure in the world after Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus. You can see this guy in Glasgow, Melbourne, and even in St. Louis. There is even a statue of Robert Burns in Central Park in New York where his is depicted holding a copy of the poem “Mary.”

Sources:

http://www.centralparknyc.org/things-to-see-and-do/attractions/robert-burns.html?referrer=https://www.google.com/

http://www.scotland.org/features/robert-burns-and-slavery/

http://news.stv.tv/west-central/211023-robert-burns-face-revealed-in-3d-model-created-by-forensic-experts/

http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/2012/03/12/tommy-hilfiger-discusses-robert-burns-family-link

http://www.robertburnsthemusical.co.uk/events/

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/3141308/Bob-Dylan-inspired-by-Scottish-poet-Robert-Burns.html