When I was in college, my wife Ruthie (my girlfriend at the time) got me to watch the movie “It’s a Wonderful Life.” It’s been a Christmas tradition for us ever since. The movie ends with George Bailey’s family and friends singing Robert Burns’ classic song, Auld Lang Syne. The lyrics, as sung on the movie, are as follows:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of Auld Lang Syne?
For Auld Lang Syne, my dear,
for Auld Lang Syne,
We'll take a cup of kindness yet
for Auld Lang Syne.
Many people sing these words without knowing what the phrase “auld lang syne” means. It’s an old Scots phrase that literally means “old long since” and carries the idea of “old times” or “the olden days.”
Auld Lang Syne is sung in almost every English-speaking country across the world on New Year’s Eve. Burns didn’t write the song with New Year’s in mind, but the melody fits well with the occasion as we bid adieu to one year and welcome in the next.
Burns’ song celebrates the gift of friendship that has withstood the test of time. As Natalie Schuman points out in a recent CountryLiving.com article,
In Scotland, where the phrase [Auld Lang Syne] originated, New Year's celebrations are of unusual importance. The holiday is known as Hogmanay, and in some regions and households, it even holds more importance than Christmas. This cultural standard can be traced to the Scottish Reformation era, when early Puritans and Presbyterians looked down upon extravagant Christmas celebrations as superstitious and unnecessary. With Christmas celebrations restricted to the bare minimum, Hogmanay stole the spotlight as the main winter event.
The "Auld Lang Syne" lyrics we know (or pretend to know) today are derived from the original poem, and are typically sung at New Year's Eve celebrations to reflect upon and recognize old friendships that have stood the test of time as a new year begins. Traces of the original Scots language are still there, but today's lyrics are comparatively easy to decipher.
New Year’s Eve is a wonderful time to “celebrate God’s abundant goodness” (Psalm 145:7), including the gift of friendship and of days gone by. Yet, sadly, many spend the final night of the year getting drunk and acting stupidly. With their slurred speech and poor memory they’re not recounting much of anything. Plus they are dishonoring God, “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17), including food and drink and friends (Eccl. 12:7; 1 Cor. 10:31).
We know from what Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 11 that drunkenness was a problem in the first-century church when believers feasted together in conjunction with the Lord’s Supper. Paul rebuked them, saying, “When you meet together, you are not really interested in the Lord’s Supper…. As a result, some go hungry while others get drunk” (1 Cor. 11:20-21 NLT). This sinful, self-centered behavior betrayed the very essence of the Lord’s Supper, which is to stimulate our remembrance of the person and work of Jesus, who called us his friends (John 15:15) and showed the greatness of his love by laying down his life for us (John 15:13). Jesus is the ultimate Friend who has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Heb. 13:5).
So as we “take a cup of kindness” on New Year’s Eve, let us also remember the “cup of blessing” (1 Cor. 10:16) by which we remember Jesus’ sacrifice and rejoice in our great salvation (Heb. 2:3). The Lord’s Supper is also called “communion” because it celebrates our fellowship as believers in Christ. Indeed, those who point us to Jesus are the best of friends.
The song Auld Lang Syne begins with two rhetorical questions:
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of Auld Lang Syne?
The implied answer is no! Let’s be sure to celebrate old friends and precious days gone by.
Better yet, as believers let us look forward to the grandest reunion of all, when Christ returns in power and glory to gather us to himself. We along with all of God’s people from all the ages will sing and feast and laugh like never before in a glorious celebration that will never end.
Note: For your enjoyment I’ve included the above video of The Tenors singing Auld Lang Syne amidst the beautiful scenery of Newfoundland.
Happy New Year!