Auld Lang Syne

Scottish traditions · music · New Year · farewell

A Scottish classic. Auld Lang Syne is a famous song that comes from Scotland and has been sung for hundreds of years. The title means 'old long since' in Scottish, which is a poetic way of saying 'the old days gone by'.

New Year's Eve anthem. Every year at midnight on Hogmanay (the Scottish name for New Year's Eve), people around the world sing this song to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new one. It's become a tradition in many English-speaking countries too.

More than parties. While most people know it from New Year's celebrations, Auld Lang Syne is also sung at graduations, funerals, and other important farewell moments to say goodbye to friends and remember good times together.

Scout traditions. Many Scouting groups use Auld Lang Syne to close their jamborees and special events, making it a meaningful way to end adventures and friendships made during those gatherings.

Worldwide tradition. Although it's Scottish in origin, this song has become so popular that people in many countries sing it on New Year's Eve, making it one of the most recognized farewell songs in the world.