Auld Lang Syne, traditionally linked with New Year's Eve, was written by Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Burns published a version of the song in 1796, shortly after his death, although he said he had collected and adapted older Scottish material. The title is Scots for an expression meaning roughly “old long since” or “for old times' sake.”
The song became associated with farewells and the beginning of a new year, especially in English-speaking countries. Groups commonly sing it at midnight while holding hands or raising glasses, though customs and lyrics vary by country and occasion.
A frequent mistake is to treat Burns as the sole creator of every word and melody. His version is the celebrated literary form, but it draws on earlier traditional lines and tunes. The tune used today also developed through later musical arrangements and performance practice.