Happy New Year! The history of the song 'Auld Lang Syne!'

At this time of year, all around the world, many people sing the song ‘Auld Lang Syne’.
But not many people know what it means, or who wrote it!
Watch this video to learn its history, and what its lyrics are trying to get us to understand!

[@allisongrimshaw8628]

thanks love your programme and may i wish you a contemted, peaceful , and healthy new year.. my father came from coniecavel

[@gordonsscotland8441]

Thanks very much, Allison! All the best to you. Conicavel is in a lovely part of Scotland! Kind regards, Gordon

[@patriciayohn6136]

Thank you and a Belated Happy New Year and a Happy Easter to you and your family. I was crying the whole way through this presentation as I lost my Dad, James Bell three years ago on Maundy Thursday and have only seen my only child, Jennifer and my only Granddaughters, Fiona and Gwendolyn briefly three times since the holidays in 2019. I cry every time I hear Auld Lang Syne. On my Dad's side I am Scottish and Irish and when we were all together at any Holiday we would reminisce for hours after dinner about family no longer with us I especially loved hearing stories about family members who had passed before I was born which gave me a greater sense of belonging.

[@gordonsscotland8441]

Thank you, Patricia, and my best wishes to you.
Hope you had a nice Easter. The weather here in Scotland on Easter Saturday was lovely so we were able to have a get-together in our garden with our family, which was great. We're still pretty much in lockdown here, so not really allowed to do much.
I hope you'll be able to see your family again soon.
My late Mum used to cry every New Year at midnight when Auld Lang Syne was sung and we all wished each other a Happy New Year!
Kindest regards to you from Scotland. Gordon

[@patriciayohn6136]

Glad to hear you had some lovely weather for Easter, it was very nice here as well. We don't get out much here either.

[@cynthiarose7833]

Happy New Year from Cslifornia!

[@gordonsscotland8441]

Thanks, Cynthia! All the best to you and yours for 2021! Kind regards, Gordon

[@kathleenumeyama3122]

Thank you Gordon. What a beautiful explanation. Here in Japan it is a much loved tune and often played when a department store is about to close at night and also at school graduation ceremonies!

[@gordonsscotland8441]

That's lovely to know, Kathleen! What a great tune to use in those instances! I was amazed to read that Auld Lang Syne, in various formats, is used in many countries around the world including Thailand, South Korea, Denmark and the Netherlands to name but a few. Thanks for letting us know how Japan uses it. Kind regards, Gordon

[@mikeherren5604]

Thank you Gordon. Some good history there. May you and June have wonderful and blessed new year.

[@gordonsscotland8441]

Thanks so much, Mike! All the best to you and yours in 2021! Kind regards, Gordon

[@davidford694]

A wise person once said that if you want to know how happy someone is don't look at what they own but at who they know - the quality of their relationships.

[@gordonsscotland8441]

An excellent point, David! Kind regards, Gordon

[@ronaldschwigel2286]

HAPPY NEW YEAR GORDON -2021

[@gordonsscotland8441]

Thanks so much, Ronald! All the best in 2021! Kind regards, Gordon

[@claudinepuglisicagwin1850]

Happy New Year, Gordon. Thanks for the explanation and history behind the lyrics..

[@gordonsscotland8441]

My pleasure, Claudine. All the best to you in 2021! Kind regards. Gordon

[@britdeltoro5829]

@@gordonsscotland8441 for auld lang syne I wish you the best

[@MarcelGomesPan]

Scots often sounds very ”Scandinavian” both in some pronounciation and some words.
In Swedish we have ”länge sedan” with the same meaning as ”Lang syne”.

[@gordonsscotland8441]

That's very interesting to know, Marcel. I know many Scots words have links to continental languages, as our trade originally was mostly with the Low Countries, Germany and Scandinavia. I know there is a Swedish branch of Clan Douglas which is descended from the Scottish-born Field Marshal Robert Douglas, Count of Skenninge. So, we obviously had close links! Kind regards, Gordon

[@dorteweber3682]

The Danish writer Jeppe Aagaard translated this poem into Danish. Skuld' Gammel Venskab rejn forgo'.He translated it into west Jutlandish dialect. It is always sung at new year's.Thanks Scotland and Burns!

[@headron66]

Here’s tae us wha’s like us, damn few and they are awe deid. ✨💥

[@gordonsscotland8441]

A famous saying! Kind regards, Gordon

[@britdeltoro5829]

Happy new year gordon

[@gordonsscotland8441]

Thanks so much, Brit! All the best for 2021! Kind regards. Gordon