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Millions of us around the world will ring in the New Year on Tuesday by belting out a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne.
The festive sing-a-long is a favourite on December 31 as people cross their hands and mark the beginning of the year with a chorus of the old-timey classic, whether we know the words or not.
But how many of us actually know the lyrics to the centuries-old Scottish folk song, and what do they really mean?
Here’s the lowdown.
What does Auld Lang Syne mean?
Auld Lang Syne is old Scottish slang which can be roughly translated into modern English as “old long since” – or, in more conversational English, as “days gone by”, “old times” or “long, long ago”.
So it means that during the chorus when everyone sings “for auld lang syne”, this can be translated as “for the sake of old times”.
Poet Robert Burns is often credited with writing the lyrics sometime in the late 1700s, but even he admitted it was based on a much older Scottish folk song.
The poem is known to millions around the world as a song to be sung to a traditional folk tune to welcome in the new year – but it’s not just limited to New Year’s celebrations. It is also sung at funerals, graduations and as a farewell song at other occasions, including by the Scouts to close jamborees.
Why do we sing it?
The song emerged at a time during the nineteenth century when the Scots were immigrating in vast numbers to America and Canada.
In 1929, band leader Guy Lombardo and his band played the song during a year’s New Year’s Eve concert at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. The concert was broadcast live on radio and Auld Lang Syne was chosen to open it.
Lombardo said he first heard the old folk song from Scottish immigrants while he was growing up in Ontario, Canada
Things to do in London on New Year’s Day
1/7 Go to a New Year’s Day party
Didn’t party hard enough on New Year’s Eve? Let the revelry continue beyond the small hours and well into 2019 with a New Year’s Day shindig. At new Canning Town venue Fold an all-day party will run from 7am until one minute to midnight. Those made of particularly stern stuff can party without let up at the Pickle Factory’s New Years Day event, which starts the very moment its joint New Year’s Eve party with Oval Space ends.
Sarthak Navjivan/Unsplash
2/7 Watch the New Year’s Day Parade
This annual spectacular will once again take to the streets, seeing the capital baton-twirl, samba and drum-roll it’s way into 2019. This year’s parade is set to host 10,000 participants from the UK, USA and Europe, and see 500,000 turn up to watch them perform from Piccadilly to Parliament Square. The parade is free to view, and hungry revellers will also be able to tuck into treats at the street food village in Waterloo Place.
Tolga Akmen/Getty Images
3/7 Go ice skating
If the swim sounded just a little too chilly, why not meet winter half way with a spin on the ice? Get your skates on at Somerset House, where ice skating is accompanied by festive snacks from Fortnum & Mason, or take in more epic scenery at the Natural History Museum or Hampton Court Palace, both of which are currently home to ice rinks open on New Year’s Day.
4/7 Get brunch
Assuming you won’t wake up in time for breakfast, make brunch the first meal of 2019. Twenty-four hour, 40-floor high restaurant Duck and Waffle will be open for a brunch with views of the city, costing £49 for a four course menu. Pizza restaurant Bunga Bunga Battersea will be carrying on where the party left off the night before with a “Survivor’s Brunch”, featuring karaoke, three courses and the option to add bottomless bellinis.
5/7 12 Dogs of Christmas at Ham House
There are plenty of parks around London that make perfect settings for a New Year’s Day walk, but dog owners should consider taking theirs at Ham House and Garden. The garden of the 17th century manor house has only recently opened up to canine companions, and from December 26 – January 6 there’s quite literally a welcoming party for them. The first dog to walk through the gates at 10am on those days will be named as one of the 12 Dogs of Christmas, receive a dog-friendly Christmas pudding and have their photo up on the “InstaHam” board.
National Trust images
6/7 Go for a bracing outdoor swim
Shake off the cobwebs of 2018 and dive into the new year with a slightly nippy dip at an outdoor swimming spot. London’s Royal Docks will be hosting a New Year’s Day Dip, open to all those who have got a NOWCA safety wristband for the location. Kenwood Ladies Day will also be open to all members for a January 1 swim, kicking off at noon.
Jana Sabeth/Unsplash
7/7 Join the Ceilidh at the Southbank Centre
If you want to get to know your Gay Gordons in 2019, then head to the Southbank Centre, where the new year is being rung in with a good old Ceilidh. The free-to-join traditional knees up will be swinging its way into the Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival hall from 1pm, with musicians from around the world exploring the delights of British folk music and dance.
George Bell
1/7 Go to a New Year’s Day party
Didn’t party hard enough on New Year’s Eve? Let the revelry continue beyond the small hours and well into 2019 with a New Year’s Day shindig. At new Canning Town venue Fold an all-day party will run from 7am until one minute to midnight. Those made of particularly stern stuff can party without let up at the Pickle Factory’s New Years Day event, which starts the very moment its joint New Year’s Eve party with Oval Space ends.
Sarthak Navjivan/Unsplash
2/7 Watch the New Year’s Day Parade
This annual spectacular will once again take to the streets, seeing the capital baton-twirl, samba and drum-roll it’s way into 2019. This year’s parade is set to host 10,000 participants from the UK, USA and Europe, and see 500,000 turn up to watch them perform from Piccadilly to Parliament Square. The parade is free to view, and hungry revellers will also be able to tuck into treats at the street food village in Waterloo Place.
Tolga Akmen/Getty Images
3/7 Go ice skating
If the swim sounded just a little too chilly, why not meet winter half way with a spin on the ice? Get your skates on at Somerset House, where ice skating is accompanied by festive snacks from Fortnum & Mason, or take in more epic scenery at the Natural History Museum or Hampton Court Palace, both of which are currently home to ice rinks open on New Year’s Day.
4/7 Get brunch
Assuming you won’t wake up in time for breakfast, make brunch the first meal of 2019. Twenty-four hour, 40-floor high restaurant Duck and Waffle will be open for a brunch with views of the city, costing £49 for a four course menu. Pizza restaurant Bunga Bunga Battersea will be carrying on where the party left off the night before with a “Survivor’s Brunch”, featuring karaoke, three courses and the option to add bottomless bellinis.
5/7 12 Dogs of Christmas at Ham House
There are plenty of parks around London that make perfect settings for a New Year’s Day walk, but dog owners should consider taking theirs at Ham House and Garden. The garden of the 17th century manor house has only recently opened up to canine companions, and from December 26 – January 6 there’s quite literally a welcoming party for them. The first dog to walk through the gates at 10am on those days will be named as one of the 12 Dogs of Christmas, receive a dog-friendly Christmas pudding and have their photo up on the “InstaHam” board.
National Trust images
6/7 Go for a bracing outdoor swim
Shake off the cobwebs of 2018 and dive into the new year with a slightly nippy dip at an outdoor swimming spot. London’s Royal Docks will be hosting a New Year’s Day Dip, open to all those who have got a NOWCA safety wristband for the location. Kenwood Ladies Day will also be open to all members for a January 1 swim, kicking off at noon.
Jana Sabeth/Unsplash
7/7 Join the Ceilidh at the Southbank Centre
If you want to get to know your Gay Gordons in 2019, then head to the Southbank Centre, where the new year is being rung in with a good old Ceilidh. The free-to-join traditional knees up will be swinging its way into the Clore Ballroom of the Royal Festival hall from 1pm, with musicians from around the world exploring the delights of British folk music and dance.
George Bell
What are the lyrics to Auld Lang Syne?
Thankfully, the lyrics we sing today are a more modern version of Burns’ original Scots verse.
For example nowadays, we sing “my dear” instead of “my jo” and “pint cup” over “pint-stoup”.
Auld Lang Syne English translation
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne?
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup!
and surely I’ll buy mine!
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.
CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend!
And give me a hand o’ thine!
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.
CHORUS
