Auld Lang Syne (aka O Lan Sai)

In less than half an hour, 2011 will end and Auld Land Syne will fill the air all over the world.

“Auld Lang Syne” is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song. It is traditionally used to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations and as a farewell or ending to other occasions.

The song’s Scots title may be translated into English literally as “old long since”, or more idiomatically, “long long ago”, “days gone by” or “old times”. Consequently “For auld lang syne”, as it appears in the first line of the chorus, is loosely translated as “for (the sake of) old times”.

I came across this Hokkien version of Auld Lang Syne featuring the  clicknetwork hosts Xiaxue, Qiu Qiu, Kay Kay, Paul Twohill, Mike Braun, Don Richmond and Oon Shu An. It is a humorous clip and is starting to go viral.

Sit back and enjoy the “O Lan Sai.” For those who knows Hokkien, you will know the meaning of O Lan Sai, haha!