Which ballad is traditionally sung at midnight during Hogmanay in Scotland?

“Auld Lang Syne” is traditionally sung at midnight during Hogmanay in Scotland.

Hogmanay is Scotland’s New Year celebration, and singing Burns’s song at the turn of the year has become one of its most recognizable customs. The title means “old long since,” evoking memories, enduring friendships and the passage from one year to another.

Robert Burns sent a version of the poem to a friend in 1788, describing it as an old song. The melody now commonly used became associated with the words through later musical publication and popularization. Because the tune is widely known, people often join in even when they do not know every lyric.

The song’s use at Hogmanay helped spread it internationally, where it became a standard for New Year’s Eve. It is also performed at farewells and other ceremonies. “Flower of Scotland” and “Scotland the Brave” are Scottish songs, but neither is the conventional midnight ballad in this context.