Auld Lang Syne traditionally accompanies the midnight New Year countdown in many English-speaking countries.
The song uses a Scots phrase meaning “old long since,” or roughly “for old times’ sake.” Its lyrics recall friendship and shared memories, which helped make it suitable for marking the transition from one year to the next.
The familiar words were written by Robert Burns in 1788, based partly on older Scottish material. The melody commonly used today became associated with the song during the nineteenth century, and the tradition spread internationally through Scottish communities and popular culture.
The song is not used identically everywhere. Some countries sing it at midnight, some use it at other farewells, and many people know only its opening verse and chorus. Its performance is nevertheless strongly associated with New Year’s Eve.