What is the name of the Scottish poem traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve?

“Auld Lang Syne” is the Scottish poem traditionally sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

The title means “old long since” or, more naturally, “for old times’ sake.” The song asks listeners to remember old friendships and shared experiences, making it a natural choice for a moment that looks backward at the year ending while welcoming the year ahead.

Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote down and adapted the words in 1788, drawing on earlier Scots songs and verses. The melody now commonly used with the lyrics was paired with the song later. Burns’s version helped preserve and popularize the work, but he did not necessarily invent every line or musical element from scratch.

The song became internationally associated with New Year’s Eve during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. English-language celebrations often sing it while holding hands in a circle, though many versions and translations exist. It is also used at farewells, graduations, memorials, and other endings.