As the final countdown to the new year reverberates, a familiar melody rises from a chorus of millions across the globe. "Should auld acquaintance be forgotten, and never brought to mind?" asks "Auld Lang Syne," the song inextricably linked to New Year's Eve rituals worldwide. But beneath the festive cheer and clinking glasses lies a story steeped in history, cultural nuances, and even controversies, unraveling the enduring legacy of this tradition.