At Scotland's Hogmanay, what is the traditional song commonly sung at midnight?

At Scotland's Hogmanay celebrations, the traditional midnight song is “Auld Lang Syne.”

The title uses Scots words meaning “old long since,” or more naturally, “for old times' sake.” The song reflects on friendship, shared memories, and drinking a toast to people who have known one another over the years.

Robert Burns wrote down and adapted the best-known version in 1788, drawing on older Scots verses and melodies. Burns sent the poem to the Scots Musical Museum, where it became associated with a tune that later spread internationally. It is now a standard part of New Year's celebrations far beyond Scotland.

Many people sing only the opening verse and chorus, and traditions differ over whether participants link arms before or after midnight. The song is not exclusively a New Year's piece: it can also mark farewells, memorials, graduations, and other transitions.