A guid New Year tae yin an aw ROBERT BURNS (1759-1796) The most famous and best-loved Scottish poet was asked in 1786 if he would help to collect old Scottish songs for The Scots Musical Museum. He responded with an energy and enthusiasm that were to last until his death. He collected, amended and wrote some 200 songs, which include many of his best lyrics, such as Auld Lang Syne, O My Luve’s Like a Red, Red Rose, Ye Banks and Braes, and Scots Wha Hae. Burns said that he collected Auld Lang Syne “from an old man’s singing”, but most people think the words were mainly by Burns himself, although a quite similar chorus had long been in print. Auld Lang Syne is traditionally sung at the chiming of New Year around the world, and has been translated into many languages. At Hogmanay in Scotland it is common practice that everyone joins hands with the person next to them to form a great circle on the dance floor. At the beginning of the last verse (And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere! / And gies a hand o’ thine !) everyone crosses their arms across their breast, so that the right hand reaches out to the neighbour on the left and vice versa. When the tune ends, everyone rushes to the middle, while still holding hands. When the circle is re-established, everyone turns under the arms to end up facing outwards with hands still joined. But not this year, we trust. On 29 January 2020 Auld Lang Syne was sung by the members of the European Parliament when the Brexit withdrawal agreement was passed. .