2nd February 2013
Robert Burns and Romania
Last Saturday some 170 people gathered at the Athenee Palace Hotel in Bucharest for Burns Night – an annual celebration for the Scottish community. Born on 25th January 1759, Robert Burns is Scotland’s national poet as well as a pioneer of the Romantic movement.
Burns suppers are organised each year on or around the poet’s birthday, to celebrate his work and the impact it has had on Scottish literature and beyond.
In Bucharest there have been Burns Suppers for the last ten years, organised in aid of ‘Light into Europe‘, a British-Romanian NGO dedicated to raising funds for sensory – impaired children.
There are 40,000 people in Romania with hearing impediments, and 100,000 who have sight impediments, around 25% of all those with disabilities in Romania. ‘Light into Europe’ does two fantastic things.
First of all, it gives very practical help to those that need it – it provides help with sign language, with textbooks, and now guide dogs. And secondly, it supports dedicated and courageous people who are campaigning hard to make sure that there will be better provision for independent living in the future than there is today.
My task of the evening was to propose a toast, according to tradition, to ‘the Immortal Memory of Robert Burns’. I recalled all the things that we Scots and Romanians have in common – the culture of the mountains, haggis (drob), reels (hora) and of course whisky (ziuca). And I recited a famous Romanian poem which I am sure Robert Burns would have appreciated as much as I do – the ‘Miorita’, with its beautiful, lyrical and mystical exposition of the life and landscape of the shepherd. Here it is on YouTube. I hope you enjoy it.
Absolutely amazing! Thank you, Mr Harris.
“up there the air is clear, the birds sing and the landscape is beautiful. Who would want to go back down to the valley which is full of people and all the cares of the world?!”- My thought exactly:)
Yes, some of the Romanians with whom I’ve discussed the poem have also mentioned the power of nature as one of the themes. I suppose I am so steeped in the Western traditions of story-telling that I expect the primary focus of a narrative to be good prevailing (or seeking to) and wrong-doers being punished. Thanks for sharing your take on the poem.
Thanks Debbie. I was amazed to encounter the ‘Miorita’ in the prologue to one of Marcus Sedgwick’s recent books for children – ‘My Swordhand is Singing’. Great stories live for ever!
Interesting! I think Romanians will be pleased to hear the story is known abroad.
That’s a common interpretation, but I don’t share it. It’s not clear if the shepherd is resigned to his fate, only that he gives instructions to the Miorita on what to do if he is murdered. (Si de a fi sa mor …) I like to think that he shares a sentiment I feel when I am up in the mountains. That up there the air is clear, the birds sing and the landscape is beautiful. Who would want to go back down to the valley which is full of people and all the cares of the world?! Martin
This was a very special occasion that I would have liked to attend because it was held in my native city and it celebrated thanks to Light into Europe NGO both the iconic Robert Burns and the famous Romanian ballad “Mioriţa”, which is so dear to every Romanian heart.
Mr. Ambassador, to recite it so well in front of Romanians is quite a feat!
I have trouble with the message of Miorita. Why is the shepherd so passive, almost colluding in his own murder? Why doesn’t he use the information to punish his wicked peers ot at least save himself? It is at odds with the self-preservation instinct.
In answer to your question, the main message of “Mioriţa” is that according to Romanian belief those who are loyal to their traditions accept their destiny with serenity and a sense of fatalism.
As you say, for most people living today this may seem strange!
Yes, a similar fatalism to the story of Manole, the builder who puts his wife behind the wall! Thanks for your response.
The shephers is so “passive” because he is already DEAD, my dear! This is a mourning song, meant for the MOTHER. It is not the shepherd who is talking, but those who love him trying to explained his death in such a way as to bring relief and comfort to his mother’s and to their own souls… It is a philosophical poem, NOT a prophecy! That’s what most of the readers of the poem do not understand. The murder is already in the PAST, it cannot be “prevented” as much as we all wanted to…