HOMECOMING

As you all probably know, 2009 has been designated the Year of the Homecoming in Scotland. It was initially envisaged that this would recognise the 250th anniversary of the birth of our national poet - Robert Burns. As he said himself when describing his birth:

Oor Monarch's hinmost year but ane,

Had five and twenty days begun.

'Twas then a blast o' Jan'war win'

Blew hansel in on Robin.

The Monarch in question was King George II who died in 1760. Thus his hinmost or hindmost year was 1760 and his hindmost (last year) but one was therefore 1759. Twenty five days begun gives us 25th January 1759. At that time of year in Scotland there are often gales and on Burns's birthday, it seems this was no exception. Hansel is a welcome gift and he is using the diminutive form of Robert for himself.