3% of millennials believe Mariah Carey wrote Auld Lang Syne

As New Year’s Eve 2018 approaches, many will be planning out their festivities for the big night.

Auld Lang Syne has long been a traditional part of the annual celebrations, especially in Scotland.

But a new poll has found some people are very confused about the anthem’s origins.

Fireworks light up the sky above Edinburgh castle as part of Hogmanay (Photo by Ross Gilmore/Getty Images for Unicef)

Written in 1788 by Scottish poet Robert Burns, the song is set to the tune of a traditional folk song and is sung to say farewell to the past 12 months.

A new poll, however, has found the three per cent of 18-24-year-olds believe Mariah Carey wrote the song.

Mariah sang the classic Christmas song All I Want For Christmas Is You, but was born 182 years too late to write Auld Lang Syne.

45% of those polled also thought Snoop Dogg’s lyrics to his song New Year’s Eve – “And every time I see you shine. It’s like the lights of midnight. On New Year’s Eve” – were part of the song.

(Photo by Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Sugar Factory American Brasserie)

40% of those polled mistakenly identified lyrics from The Beatles songs as Auld Lang Syne, 60% thought Abba lyrics were from the song, and 34% thought Taylor Swift lyrics were sung.

People in Sydney this new year are in for a very special celebration, with rainbow fireworks planned in celebration of same-sex marriage.


As many as one million people line the streets of the Australian city to see in the new year from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Authorities have announced the famous bridge will have rainbow coloured fireworks for the 2018 celebrations, in celebration of same-sex marriage.

The decision come after Australia voted emphatically to endorse marriage equality in a national ballot.

Sydney is commonly known as the ‘gay capital’ of Australia, with its annual Mardi Gras celebrating 40 years next year.