Have a happy new year, everybody!

And many more, I hope. Every year, I get together and attempt to convince my family to sing Auld Lang Syne in its entirity. And every year I realize they don't wanna. Hmph. That's a pity, really, because I love that song... I honestly love it and will sing it willingly all year round.

Aside from the fact that I love that song, I love the fact that, once a year, people in this culture of "new and improved*" get together to sing a song in Scots, a language (or at least dialect) they don't even know about remembering the good ol' days.

So, for your viewing pleasure, I'll post all the verses to Auld Lang Syne I know, with a glossary of the Scots words.

( Some of these verses are traditional, I'm told, and some are by Burns. I just mix 'em together for fun and profit )

*_{As if anything could be both new AND improved at the same time! Illogical, much?}

Okay, this has been irking me no end...

Why do some people say "Happy New Years!" instead of "Happy New Year!"? The first implies that you only are well-wishing for the holiday itself, the second is a general wish that the entire new year be happy. I know which one I would prefer come true!

So, why say the former? Is it just that people base their holiday greeting conventions on the same pattern as "Merry Christmas!" and "Happy Groundhog Day" and don't really think about what they're saying? Hm. Wait, that could be it. Hm. Answers, please!