Auld Lang Syne is the song traditionally sung at midnight during Scottish New Year's Eve celebrations.
The title uses Scots words meaning roughly “old long since” or “days gone by.” The song is commonly associated with farewells, friendship, remembrance, and the beginning of a new year.
Scottish poet Robert Burns wrote down and adapted the best-known version in 1788, drawing on older Scottish traditional material. Burns sent the song to the Scots Musical Museum, where it was published after his death.
Although strongly linked with Scotland, the song became an international New Year's standard during the 20th century. Its melody and lyrics have been adapted in many languages, and many people know the tune even when they do not know all the words.