Ringing It In!

At the stroke of midnight tonight, in most English speaking countries, the music of “Auld Lang Syne” will be heard echoing through walls and down streets.

It is wonderful to think that this song is universally being sung in all parts of the world where English is spoken!  What a uniting thought that is!  We have Robert Burns to thank for this fabulous song as, in 1788, he wrote the poem, “Auld Lang Syne”.   Now, over two hundred years later, we are still singing it with heartfelt emotion to bring in each new year.  The song’s name is in Scots, and may be translated literally as ‘old long since’, or more idiomatically ‘long ago’, or ‘days gone by’.

The song is commonly accompanied by a traditional dance. The group who are singing form a ring holding hands for the first verse. For the second verse, arms are crossed and again linked. For the third verse everyone moves in to the centre of the ring and then out again.

Days, and even weeks before we sing this song, a lot of us are thinking about what resolution we might make for the new year.  Usually, one choses a resolution for self improvement, be it to exercise more, give up deserts or sugar altogether, be more patient, or what about a very simple one but one that would make a profound impress on the world, and that is to smile more?

Guess what your Two Chums’ resolutions are?  You guessed them…….to give MORE love, to share MORE joy and therefore have more abundant lives!