Over the weekend the Legion in Swift Current was covered in plaid and smelled like haggis as people gathered to celebrate Robbie Burns night.

The night which is hosted by the Green Berets pipe and drums at the end of January every year celebrates the life and accomplishments of one of the most famous Scottish poets - Burns.

Neil McCrie, a pipe major in the Green Berets, talked about who Burns was.

"Burns was a poet in Scotland about 250 years ago," he said. "He took a lot of the old Scottish ballads and tunes, gathered up the words and put them to music, as well as a great deal of poetry. In those days the poet was sort of like how the rock band is today. If you were a very successful poet like Burns was, it would be like you were in a successful rock band."

The day was first celebrated in 1801 by his friends and family five years after his death as a way to remember his legacy.

McCrie said the night isn't just to remember and celebrate Burns but to remember and celebrate all of Scottish history.

"It's important to continue celebrating just to give our generation a chance to let the younger generation know what the celebration is, and why it's important," he said. "It's also important to the older generation to keep it up for them so they can continue to enjoy it. I have grandchildren here tonight that I hope get an appreciation for it, grow up with it and will have some idea and want to continue with it if they have the opportunity when they're older."

McCrie adds that anybody who has Scottish roots somewhere in their background or for those who appreciate it and want to learn more are always welcome to come and join the ceilidh (also known as a party).

According to McCrie, Swift Current has been celebrating Burns almost as long as there has been a Swift Current.

Bruce Reid, a bass drummer in the Green Berets pipes and drums, says that Swift Current has very deep Scottish roots, so the night is just a way to keep the heritage that ingrained in Swift Current going.

"There's lots of Scottish heritage here, so it's a way to keep that going," he said. "Every culture seems to want to keep going, and as we should, so this is our effort to keep the Scottish culture going in Canada."

McCrie added that he is really happy with how the night turned out.

"The night from our point of view has been a good success," he said. "We like to see a big crowd, and we've got an above average crowd tonight. We had lots of senior citizens right through to the littlest one I've ever seen in a kit at about two years old. Everybody is here, and everything has gone really well."

McCrie also added that they donate part of the money they make to the Legion.