THOUSANDS of Burns suppers on five continents have been mapped in a new interactive tool by Scottish experts.

Bard specialists want Burns clubs and Scots around the world to join in a global gathering on January 25 by sharing their photos and details of their 2021 celebrations using the hashtag #VirtualBurnsNight.

The interactive map is said to be the “broadest, most detailed” record of such activities ever made.

It’s the work of the Centre for Robert Burns Studies at Glasgow University.

Co-director Professor Gerard Carruthers said: “Robert Burns is a global writer whose life and work have given rise to one of the great world cultural phenomena – the Burns Supper. At the heart of this celebration of Scotland’s national Bard is his word, from poetry to song.

“This Burns Night 2021, due to a global pandemic, many of us won’t physically be able to come together. In a testimony to the Bard’s enduring appeal not only in Scotland but around the world, we are calling Scots, at home and abroad, and lovers of Burns to join with us in Glasgow to virtually celebrate and map this global impact and appeal.”

He went on: “Burns speaks strongly to people through his words which still have resonance right up to today, not just in Scotland.”

The first such supper was held in July 1801 by the Bard’s close friends as a memorial dinner. Today it’s estimated that more than 9.5 million people around the world take part in a Burns Supper every year.

The map, available at www.burnsc21.glasgow.ac.uk/supper-map, reveals private and public events in Honolulu, Hawaii, Nuku’alofa in Tonga and Stanley in the Falkland Islands.

There are three events entered for South Korean capital Seoul, and others are documented in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and Luanda in Angola.

Food, drink, attendance and the Immortal Memory speaker are listed where possible.

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The university – where researchers are charting the history of the Burns Supper – is also working in partnership with the Scottish Government to encourage people around the world to take part in a “Burns Night In” this year and join in a toast on social media to “celebrate Scotland’s welcoming and inclusive culture”.

Culture Secretary Fiona Hyslop commented: “Although we are unable to meet up physically this year, we can still come together and continue the traditions of Burns Night from the safety of home.

“This map is an excellent accompaniment to the range of virtual events taking place this year showcasing an incredible array of artistic talent and I encourage everyone to get involved.”