Auld Lang Syne

I searched high and low for a yule log yesterday.  We visited the Zehrs Bakery and they had none:  Jacqueline, her heart set on getting one, announced:  "We're not leaving here until we get a cake."  However, the Happy New Year Cakes were $25.99 and I wasn't prepared to spend that much.  After a minute or two, she realized that I wasn't going to cave in, so she relented to going to the baking aisle and settled on a Duncan Hines cake mix for $1.50.  In the meantime, I went to Metro with Thomas and found a real yule log for only $7.99.  We ate pizza and pasta for supper; for dessert, I served the yule log with two candles, and we sang "Auld Lang Syne".

"Auld Lang Syne" was a poem written by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788.  It was set to music and became a traditional song sung on New Year's Eve in Scotland.  As Scottish immigrants settled in other countries, they brought the song with them.  Canadian Band Leader Guy Lombardo popularized the Scottish ballad in North America, playing it at the Roosevelt Hotel on New Year's Eve in 1929.  From then on, it became the band leader's signature piece.  The song became such a tradition that "Life magazine wrote that if Guy Lombardo failed to play 'Auld Lang Syne' on New Year's Eve, the American public would not believe that the new year had really arrived."*

AULD LANG SYNE 

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 us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

*Source: www.infoplease.com, "New Year's Traditions", Borgna Brunner.



Photo of Roosevelt Hotel, New York City, courtesy www.theroosevelthotel.com.