Auld Lang Syne is the traditional song commonly sung at midnight on New Year’s Eve in the United States and Britain.
The song uses a Scots phrase meaning roughly “old long since” or “for old times’ sake.” Its lyrics are associated with the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who sent a version to the Scots Musical Museum in 1788. The familiar melody was paired with the words in later musical tradition.
The song became strongly connected with New Year celebrations through public performance and broadcasting, especially in the twentieth century. People often sing it while linking hands in a circle, although the exact custom differs by country and family.
Auld Lang Syne is not a national anthem, Christmas carol, or uniquely American song. Variations are sung around the world, often with shortened or improvised verses. Its emotional theme is remembrance and friendship, which helps explain its lasting place at the transition between years.