'Auld Lang Syne' (Scots pronunciation: [???l(d) lɑ??s?in]: note 's' rather than 'z') is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294). It is well known in many countries, especially in the English-speaking world, its traditional use being to bid farewell to the old year at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve.