Auld Lang Syne

People sing a special song called Auld Lang Syne.

It is from Scotland. The name means "old times." Robert Burns wrote the words. The song asks us to remember old friends. People sing it at the New Year. They also sing it at graduations.

In Scotland, people hold hands in a big circle. They cross their arms to link hands. It is a way to say goodbye. It is a way to say hello to new things.

Auld Lang Syne is a famous song from Scotland.

The name means "old times" or "long, long ago."

Robert Burns wrote the poem in 1788. He took the words from an old folk song. He said he heard it from an old man. The song asks if we should forget old friends. It tells us to remember them instead.

People sing this song to say goodbye. They sing it at New Year's Eve, which is called Hogmanay in Scotland.

It is also sung at funerals and graduations. Many Scout groups sing it to end their meetings.

In Scotland, people join hands in a big circle. They often cross their arms to hold hands with neighbors. This helps everyone feel close. At weddings, the bride and groom might be lifted in the center.

The music is very old. Even famous composers like Beethoven wrote their own versions of the tune.

Auld Lang Syne is a famous Scottish song. It is used to mark important endings and new beginnings. People sing it to say goodbye to the old year at midnight on Hogmanay. This is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve.

You might also hear it at funerals or graduations. Some Scout groups use it to close their jamborees. The song helps people feel connected during big changes. It is a way to honor the past while moving forward.

Singing this song often involves a special way of moving. In Scotland, people join hands to form a large circle. During the last verse, everyone crosses their arms over their chests. This means your right hand reaches the neighbor on your left.

When the music ends, everyone rushes into the middle of the circle. They stay joined by their hands while they move. At weddings, the bride and groom might be lifted up in the center. This makes the moment feel very joyful and shared.

The words come from a poem by Robert Burns. He wrote it in 1788 using the Scots language. Burns said he took the song from an old man. He wanted to keep the old song from being lost. The title can be translated as "old long since." This means "long, long ago" or "times long past." The song asks if we should forget old friends. It tells us to remember them instead.

The music has a long and interesting history. The tune we know today is a pentatonic folk melody. It was first used in a book in 1799. This book was called Select Songs of Scotland by George Thomson. Many famous musicians have used the melody in their work. Ludwig van Beethoven wrote an arrangement in 1814. The composer Joseph Haydn also made an arrangement for Thomson. Even the composer George M. Cohan used the tune in a song called "You're a Grand Old Flag."

This song has traveled all over the world. When Scottish people moved to new lands, they brought the song. It has been used as a national anthem in other places. For example, South Korea used it in the 1940s. The Maldives used the tune until 1972. It is even used by military colleges in many countries. Soldiers at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst march to its beat. It is a song that brings people together across the globe.

Auld Lang Syne is a famous Scottish song. It is used to mark important endings and new beginnings. In the English-speaking world, it is traditionally sung to bid farewell to the old year. This happens at the stroke of midnight on Hogmanay, which is the Scottish name for New Year's Eve.

The song also serves many other purposes. It is often heard at funerals, graduations, and other farewell occasions. Many branches of the Scouting movement use it to close jamborees. It can even signal that a retail store is closing for the day. It is a musical way to honor the past while moving toward the future.

The song's lyrics are based on a Scots-language poem. Robert Burns wrote this poem in 1788. He noted that he took the song from an old man. He wanted to preserve an old song that had never been in print. The title, "Auld Lang Syne," can be translated into English as "old long since." This means "long, long ago" or "times long past." The chorus asks if old acquaintances should be forgotten. The answer is a call to remember long-standing friendships. It suggests taking a "cup o' kindness" to celebrate those old times.

The music we recognize today is a pentatonic tune. A pentatonic scale uses only five notes per octave. This specific melody became standard in 1799. It appeared in George Thomson's Select Songs of Scotland. This book was the second volume of a larger collection. Before this, the song had a different melody. Burns actually thought that older melody was "mediocre." The current tune was likely originally a sprightly dance. It probably had a much quicker tempo than it does now.

Many famous composers have interacted with this melody. In 1782, William Shield quoted the tune in his opera Rosina. In 1792, Joseph Haydn arranged the song for George Thomson. Haydn's arrangement was one of over 400 Scottish folk song arrangements. This helped make the song very popular. Ludwig van Beethoven also wrote an arrangement in 1814. His version was part of his 12 Scottish Folksongs. Both Haydn and Beethoven used the original, brisk strathspey rhythm. A strathspey is a type of Scottish dance.

The melody has been used in many different ways. George M. Cohan used the melody in "You're a Grand Old Flag." He made the melody identical except for one syllable. Ernest Tomlinson wrote a 20-minute Fantasia on the song in 1976. This piece includes 152 quotations from other composers. The tune has even been used for religious purposes. In the Sacred Harp tradition, it is called "Plenary." Another version is called "Fair Haven." Even Cliff Richard used the melody for "The Millennium Prayer" in 1999.

Singing the song often involves a specific physical ritual. In Scotland, people form a large circle by joining hands. During the last verse, everyone crosses their arms across their chest. This means your right hand reaches the neighbor on your left. Outside of Scotland, people often cross their arms from the very beginning. At the end of the song, everyone rushes into the middle of the circle. They remain joined by their hands while they move. At weddings, the bride and groom are often lifted in the center.

The song has traveled globally as people emigrated. It has even served as a national anthem. South Korea used the melody as its anthem in the 1940s. The Maldives used the tune until 1972. It is also a staple in military traditions. Young officers at Sandhurst march to its beat. Similar customs exist at the Royal Military College of Canada and in Malaysia. It is also used at the National Defence Academy in India. This song truly connects people across many different nations and cultures.