Change of Guard with Bagpipes in front of Hungarian Parliament

Passers-by were treated to an extraordinary sight on Monday in front of the Parliament in the heart of Budapest. A change of guard with bagpipes took place to mark the anniversary of the birth of a Scottish poet.

It has become customary to hold a parade in front of the Parliament building on important occasions such as national holidays, and it was here that Hungarian President Katalin Novák received Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday as part of a military salute. But on the same day, another important and interesting event took place on the steps of Parliament: the changing of the guard, which was held on Monday to the sound of bagpipes, with the participation of a Bagpipe Band and the Parliamentary Guard.

The occasion was the 264th anniversary of the birth of Scottish national poet Robert Burns, and the event was organized by the Hungarian-Scottish Society and the Robert Burns International Foundation at the main steps of the Parliament building on January 30, 2023.

Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759 and died on July 21, 1796 at the age of 37. He is the best known of the Scots vernacular poets, but he also wrote in English on many occasions. He was celebrated as a Scottish cultural icon throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, both in Scotland and Scottish communities scattered around the world.

One of his most famous works is “Auld Lang Syne,” which is among the most recognizable poems or songs written in English, thanks to its popularity at New Year celebrations around the world.

The text was written by Robert Burns in 1788, but is based on an older Scottish folk song. Throughout the years, there have been many covers of the traditional music; Rod Stewart and Mariah Carey having both sung it, among others.

Featured photo via MTI/Lakatos Péter