And now Prince Charles has confirmed he will participate in a special audio project which is underway to include all of Burns’ 600 and some odd works in a recorded recitation. Joining the Prince in lending their voices will be actors Robert Carlyle, Alan Cumming, Robbie Coltrane and Brian Cox. The project is estimated to take three years.

“‘This is the start of an extraordinary, celebration — a once in a 250-year celebration — of the lasting legacy of Robert Burns and the country that he loved,’ said Scotland’s First Minister Alex Salmond, who plans to have a traditional Burns night supper in the Bard’s hometown of Alloway on Sunday evening.

Salmond will be digging into a meal of haggis — minced sheep’s heart, liver and lungs mixed with onion, oatmeal, suet, stock and salt, all boiled in the animal’s stomach.

Urgh. No word on whether First Minister Alex Salmond is in hospital today, though he may have been seen buying rather a lot of Pepto-Bismol.

Scottish Gemini is on a mission to set a record for the “Largest Worldwide Toast” in history and are asking for Rabbie fans around the globe to join in the toast to mark the 250th Anniversary of his birth.

Getting involved is easy – you just need utter a toast to “The Immortal Memory of Robert Burns” and then complete the online form to record the toast details. (Oh and make sure you have your beverage of choice on hand prior to attempting your toast.)

You can read the full details at www.worldwidetoasttorobertburns.com

Burns will outdo Winston Churchill (honored with 2 special editions of stamps)  and Shakespeare and Charles Dickens who have only had one edition each.

The first class stamps featuring Burns’ portrait on one and on the other, the words from one of his most notable sons, “A Man’s a Man For A’ That“.   On the other four stamps are pictured a saltire, a thistle, a lion rampant and a tartan cloth.

The Royal Mint is also offering a special £2 Robert Burns commemorative coin.

A Man’s A Man for A’ That

Is there for honest poverty
That hangs his head, an’ a’ that
The coward slave, we pass him by
We dare be poor for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp
The man’s the gowd for a’ that
What though on hamely fare we dine
Wear hoddin grey, an’ a’ that
Gie fools their silks, and knaves their wine
A man’s a man, for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
Their tinsel show an’ a’ that
The honest man, though e’er sae poor
Is king o’ men for a’ that
Ye see yon birkie ca’d a lord
Wha struts an’ stares an’ a’ that
Tho’ hundreds worship at his word
He’s but a coof for a’ that
For a’ that, an’ a’ that
The man o’ independent mind
He looks an’ laughs at a’ that
A prince can mak’ a belted knight
A marquise, duke, an’ a’ that
But an honest man’s aboon his might
Gude faith, he maunna fa’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
Their dignities an’ a’ that
The pith o’ sense an’ pride o’ worth
Are higher rank that a’ that
Then let us pray that come it may
(as come it will for a’ that)
That sense and worth, o’er a’ the earth
Shall bear the gree an’ a’ that
For a’ that an’ a’ that
It’s coming yet for a’ that
That man to man, the world o’er
Shall brithers be for a’ that

According to The Guardian, a Scotland man found a collection of letters and poems written by Burns to Robert Ainslie, an Edinburgh lawyer with whom he was friends, in his mother’s home 10 years ago. He is now putting them up for sale, a month shy of Burns’ would-be 250th birthday.

The letters are apparently on the unsavoury side, and reveal some interesting facts about Burns:

The poems and letters, which cast a different light on the man known for his romantic verse including “Ae fond kiss and then we sever”, reportedly see Burns refer to his children as “bastards”, and complain about not being able to ride his horse due to a sexually transmitted disease.

Excitement at such a rare find is being rather squashed by the content. Because next month is meant to be a celebration of Robert Burns and his work, fans and historians are somewhat dismayed that the collection is coming to light at this time. As well, many feel the seller should be ensuring the documents go where they belong.

“I was hoping personally that they’d end up [in the National Library],” he said. “Anything to do with the national bard, I would prefer it to go to one of the national libraries.”