A Toast to the Good Old Days

by Lois bolin
Old Naples Historian

At the stroke of midnight on December 31, the world will once again be joined in a universal commonality when we all begin to sing “Auld Lang Syne,” the poem by Robert Burns that is widely regarded as “one of the world’s most popular songs that no one knows the lyrics to.” The tune can stop (well, you never really stop a Scotsman) even the wildest of ye’ Highlanders for a moment of reflection to honor a time long, long gone.

More idiomatically, “auld lang syne” translates to “old long ago” or“days gone by” — or simply, “the good old days.

”While most Scotsmen believe they invented most things — and according to the book, “How Scots Invented the Modern World: The True Story of How Western Europe’s Poorest Nation Created Our World and Almost Everything in It,” they did — they did not create the tradition of singing (miming is more like it) “Auld Lang Syne” at midnight on December 31. Bandleader Guy Lombardo gets the credit for that.

Mr. Lombardo apparently first heard the song in his hometown of London, Ontario, sung by (no surprise here) Scottish immigrants. When he and his brothers and their Royal Canadians dance band settled in New York City and caused a stir between the two top radio networks, CBS and NBC, who were vying to get Mr. Lombardo on their airwaves.At midnight December 31, 1929, at The Roosevelt Hotel, Mr.Lombardo signed off on CBS, concluding the first half of his New Year’s Eve celebration, and then immediately signed on with NBC to broadcast the second half of the festivities. The tradition of New Year’s Eve with Guy Lombardo and, of course, “Auld Lang Syne” become so entrenched in American culture that Life magazine once speculated that if Mr.Lombardo “failed to play ‘Auld Lang Syne,’ the American public would not believe that the new year had really arrived.” (For non Scotsman, seethe words to the song to the right.)

NEW YEAR’S EVE, NAPLES STYLE

The center of Naples’ New Year’s Eve celebrations has long been at oneof the town’s most beloved treasure — the Naples Pier. This December31, we can relive a moment in time, although there will probably be morepeople on the beach at 7:30 p.m. watching the city fireworks display thanthere were in all of Naples back when the tradition began.

Afterward, walk up 12th Avenue South, the first Main Street inNaples, and show your family the Norris Gardens and Palm Cottage(stop and note the name on the gate), continue past Beardy Banyan, theoldest banyan tree in the city. As you cross Gordon Drive and enter the parking lot behind Tommy Bahama, stop and reflect that, “This is where it all began.”

Imagine a time in 1919, long before Guy Lombardo landed in New York, and envision Capt. Stewart waving his lantern as the Bon Temps, Naples’ first transportation service, approaches the pier. Picture guests walking down the street from the pier toward The Naples Hotel as hotel staff put their luggage on a cart that rolls on a set of rail tracks tothe hotel, with perhaps a child or two on top getting the ride of their lives.

Imagine the captain, who’s also the town postmaster,stopping at the post office at the foot of the pier to drop offthe mail before walking over to bring his employer, WalterHaldeman, the latest news.

This is where it all began — the traditions, the culture, the mystique, the stories and the history of Naples, all 127 years of it.As we move into 2017, let’s tap into an ancient tradition that began with the Babylonian as early as 2600 B.C.: reflect upon your past, plan ahead, and start the New Year square with every ‘man’.

My toast to you this for this New Year: May your best days of2016 be your worst days in 2017.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!

And there’s a hand my trusty fiere,

And gie’s a hand o thine,

And we’ll tak a right guid-willie waught,

For auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear,

For auld lang syne,

We’ll tak a cup of kindness yet,

For auld lang syne!