“Auld Lang Syne” is played and sung at midnight during Hogmanay celebrations associated with Edinburgh Castle’s fireworks. The song’s theme of remembering old friends and times makes it a natural musical transition from one year to the next.
Edinburgh’s Hogmanay is a multi-day festival rather than a single countdown. Its program has included torchlight processions, concerts, a large Princes Street street party, and fireworks viewed against the castle and Old Town skyline. Specific venues and programming can change between editions.
Robert Burns is closely associated with the song because he wrote down and adapted its Scots verses in 1788. The tune and arrangement used at public celebrations developed through later musical transmission, so performances do not all sound identical.
“Auld Lang Syne” is not exclusive to Edinburgh or even to Scotland. It is sung at midnight in many countries, while other places use local songs, anthems, or countdown music. Edinburgh’s distinctive combination is the song, the Hogmanay festival, and the castle setting.