Jeremy,

A lot of it depends on the Burns Nicht in question. Usually if they are put on by a St. Andrew's, Scottish and/or Burns Society, than you can bet on it being "formal" dress, although this is not always the case. Best to check with the contact person for the dinner in question and see. Usually day jackets, a nice shirt and tie with a kilt will suffice, or a blazer/business suit for gents wi' no kilts (dress it up with a tartan tie, though!)

As far as Burns going, the whole concept of a Burns Supper came about AFTER his death -- it started with a group of his friends gathering to celebrate his life and works, and over time, it grew into a world-wide phenomena among Scots and their descendants. The customs of a Burns Supper came about through organisations like the World Burns Federation, St. Andrew's Societies, etc.

Burns could easily move from class to class; he was born a puir farmer wi' dung on his boots, but he moved up socially when he went to Edinburgh after his works were published. His sympathy was always for the common people. He had to be careful when he became an excise man, because it was a government post and he had expressed pro-Republican France comments, which would not be looked upon favourably by his bosses. He even joined the Dumfries Volunteers, the local militia unit, after France threatened war on the UK.

My grandfather was a farmer wi' dung on his boots as well, but he always dressed for church, the masonic lodge, etc. I personally love to put on the full dress "rig" -- it adds an air of excitement to the event.

Cheers,

T.