Happy New Year, dear readers.
Auld Lang Syne means “in old times,” to the Scots people. Robert Burns was trying to keep his beloved Celtic language alive when he popularized it. He described Auld Lang Syne as ‘an old song, of the olden times, and which has never been in print, nor even in manuscript until I took it down from an old man’s singing.’
The town of Bedford Falls sang it at the end of It's a Wonderful Life, when a happy George Bailey finally realizes that his life has been a worthwhile struggle. We sing it at the dawn of a new year, to mark the passage of time. To grieve a little while we promise to do a little better, love a little stronger, be a little kinder. What words could be more poignant as we enter the third year of a global pandemic?
The words say, “We’ll take a cup o’ Kindness yet." That refers to the old tradition of toasting: raising a glass, a “cup o’ kindness,” but I am always moved by the notion of kindness in a cup overflowing, bestowed on each other at the start of each year.
Kindness. A whole cup of it, I wish to you this new year of 2022, my friends, and beyond.
Thanks for sharing, Eileen. I sang these lines so often to welcome the new year, but never really knew the origins or the meaning of the song. Wishing you a wonderful year ahead.
ReplyDeleteSame to you, Vijaya, in literature and in life!
DeleteNice post. Been so pleased to see your mentions. Hope all continues to go beautifully and your new year will be better than the last one.
ReplyDeleteFor us both, dear friend!
DeleteBest wishes to you too, Eileen!
ReplyDeleteThank you for being so generous to your readers and our BWL community of writers, J. S.!
ReplyDeleteThank you for the background on this old song. I never broke it down to think of its meaning. Very interesting thoughts in here. And always love reminding folks to be kind.
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