Auld Lang Syne, Happy New Year By Loretta A. Ragsdell The holiday parties and merriment will be over soon, and as we look forward to the New Year, there is still one last song to be sung: Auld Lang Syne. ‘Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?’ How often I’ve sung this song at the stroke of midnight ushering out the old year, and ringing in the New Year. It wasn’t until yesterday, that I realized I really didn’t know what the lyrics meant, or why so many others and I sing this particular song on New Year’s Eve. A quick Google Internet search offered a lot of information as to the song’s origin and significance of being sung on New Year’s Eve; however, Wikipedia emerged as the most informative source. Auld Lang Syne, based on a Robert Burns’ poem, was written in the early 1700’s. Burns (1759-1796), a Scottish poet and lyricist who collected and adapted Scottish folk songs, was widely known as Scotland’s national poet and favorite son. He was highly regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement, and, after his death, he became a cultural icon and great source of inspiration for Scottish liberalism and socialism. Loosely translated, Auld Lang Syne means ‘times gone by.’ The literal English translation is "old long since", "long long ago", "days gone by" or "old times". The lyrics, ‘should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind,’ might seem harsh, but in order to have a prosperous new year, for some of us, it is exactly what we need to do, forget and move on. Dwelling on past mistakes or failures is a recipe for disaster. Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, I take inventory, and make a list of the things I would like to keep in my life and a list of the things I would like to fade away with the old year. I also reflect on my personal, professional, and educational accomplishments. Most of my fondest memories are present in reflecting on friendships forged or strengthen during the past year. I also think about the loved one, friends, and associates I had to say good-bye to due to their death, a new job, graduation, or relocation. The bitter sweetness of the chorus; “For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne. We’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne,” offers me comfort while thinking about ‘deceased loved ones’, ‘good old times’ and ‘good old friends.’
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