Millions across the world sing it as the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, linking arms with friends and strangers alike to mark the end of one year and the beginning of another. But what does “Auld Lang Syne” actually mean, and how did it become so closely tied to the holiday?

The centuries-old Scottish song, which reflects on friendship, memory and the passage of time, has become a global New Year’s tradition and is perhaps best known to American audiences for its emotional use in the classic film “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

What do the lyrics mean?

The phrase “Auld Lang Syne” comes from Scots, a traditional language closely related to English that is spoken in Scotland, and it roughly translates to “long ago” or “for old times’ sake.” The song opens with a reflective question: “Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind?” Simply, it asks whether past friendships and shared experiences should be remembered or allowed to fade.

The verses that follow reflect on time spent together and childhood friendships that are later separated by distance. Instead of focusing on regret, the song emphasizes goodwill and connection. Repeated references to sharing a drink, including the line “we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,” underline that the song is one about reconciliation.

Where did 'Auld Lang Syne' come from?

The version most people know traces back to Robert Burns, Scotland’s national poet. In the late 1700s, Burns sent the poem to a Scottish music museum, explaining that the words were based on an older folk song that had been passed down orally, according to Scotland’s national tourism organization.

The poem, however, was not immediately paired with the melody now associated with it. Variations of the tune already existed, but the familiar combination of Burns’s lyrics and the melody people sing today did not appear together until 1799, when it was published by Scottish editor and music publisher George Thomson in a collection of traditional songs. Over time, the song was widely reprinted and became closely associated with Hogmanay — Scotland’s traditional New Year celebration — where it is customarily sung at midnight as people stand in a circle, link hands and reflect on the year just ending.

Where is 'Auld Lang Syne' sung today?

Although it began as a Scottish poem, “Auld Lang Syne” is now sung in countries around the world — most commonly at New Year’s Eve celebrations. The song gained wider recognition in the 19th century as Scots emigrated abroad — especially to the United States and Canada — where its focus on friendship, loss and reunion struck a chord with immigrant communities, according to BBC Scotland.

Beyond New Year’s Eve, “Auld Lang Syne,” or melodies adapted from it, is used around the world to mark endings, transitions and moments of reflection, with variations commonly heard at graduations, funerals, farewell gatherings, and in countries including Japan, Mexico, India and parts of Europe.

How Hollywood — and war — helped make it a global anthem

“Auld Lang Syne” took on new meaning in the 20th century, becoming associated not only with New Year’s Eve but also with moments of collective loss and with some of the most memorable scenes in popular culture.

During World War I, the song was reportedly sung by soldiers on both sides during the 1914 Christmas Truce, when fighting briefly stopped and troops left their trenches to exchange greetings. Accounts from the period describe British and German soldiers joining together in familiar songs, including “Auld Lang Syne.”

Hollywood later cemented the song’s emotional power for mass audiences. The tune appeared repeatedly in early films, but it became iconic in Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946), where it plays during the film’s closing scene as the community rallies around protagonist George Bailey.

It also appears in films such as “The Gold Rush,” Charlie Chaplin’s silent-era comedy, the 2008 big-screen adaptation of “Sex and the City” and Rob Reiner’s “When Harry Met Sally.”