Did you know:

The tradition of New Year resolutions originated about 4,000 years ago when the ancient Babylonians used them as a way to begin the year with a clear conscience, usually by returning borrowed items.

The song “Auld Lang Syne” — meaning “old long ago” — is sung at the stroke of midnight to celebrate the start of the New Year in almost every English-speaking country in the world. The word “syne” is pronounced like the word “sign.” The song is an old Scottish folk lyric modernized by the poet Robert Burns in 1788.

The first ball drop in New York’s Time Square was in 1907. The ball was five foot wide and included 100 25-watt bulbs. The current New Year’s ball is a 12-foot-wide geodesic sphere encrusted with 32,256 super bright LEDs.

And just in case you need the lyrics here’s the English-translated version of the Auld Lang Syne:

Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind ?
Should old acquaintance be forgot,
and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
for auld lang syne,
we’ll take a cup of kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.
And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !
and surely I’ll buy mine !
And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet,
for auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have run about the slopes,
and picked the daisies fine ;
But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
We two have paddled in the stream,
from morning sun till dine† ;
But seas between us broad have roared
since auld lang syne.

CHORUS
And there’s a hand my trusty friend !
And give us a hand o’ thine !
And we’ll take a right good-will draught,
for auld lang syne.

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• New Year’s Eve Folklore (oup.com)