The traditional Scottish song closely associated with New Year’s Eve celebrations worldwide is “Auld Lang Syne.”
The song is based on a Scots poem collected and expanded by Robert Burns. Burns sent a version to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788, saying that he had taken down the words from an old man’s singing. The text reflects on friendship, remembered days, and shared drinks, themes that suit the end of one year and the start of another.
Its international New Year role grew through public performance and broadcasting. In the United States and Canada, Guy Lombardo’s orchestra played it during annual New Year radio programs, helping make it a midnight staple. English-speaking countries adopted it in different arrangements, and translations or adaptations exist elsewhere.
The phrase is sometimes misspelled or misunderstood as “old lang sign.” In Scots, “auld” means old and “lang syne” means long since or times gone by. The song’s meaning is therefore about remembering the past, not naming a place or person.