Meet The Rabbit And The Hedgehog That Became Unexpected Friends

A hedgehog took up squatters' rights in a pet rabbit's cozy hutch and promptly gave birth to four babies. The prickly pregnant creature moved into the hutch belonging to Rufus the rabbit in St Ives, in Cambridgeshire. The rabbit's owner, Andrea Finbow, said the hedgehog made itself a little nest in the rabbit's straw, and both seemed "quite happy in each other's company". The new mum has now moved her babies from the hutch, but Ms Finbow suspects she might still be visiting Rufus.

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Community Rushes to Help After Roof Collapse Displaces 30 Dogs at New Jersey Shelter

A New Jersey animal shelter is thanking its community after an overwhelming response to a crisis that left more than 30 dogs without a roof over their heads. On December 29, Associated Humane Societies of Newark announced that part of its facility had suffered “significant damage” when the roof of a neighboring business, weighed down by heavy snow, collapsed onto the shelter’s rear kennels. “Suddenly, there was this tremendous boom,” shelter employee Olivia Gonzalez told CBS New York. “They rushed, and they saw just absolute chaos and destruction in the rear end of the kennels.” Roughly 30 of the shelter’s 175 dogs had been housed in the damaged area. The collapse forced the organization to urgently call for emergency foster homes—specifically for dogs over 40 pounds. “With the shelter already full, the sudden loss of this critical kennel space is devastating,” the shelter wrote in a Facebook post. But the response from the community was swift. Within just 48 hours, all but two of the displaced dogs had been placed with foster families. “Only two dogs left for foster,” the organization shared in a December 31 update, calling the outpouring of support “incredible.” Staff and volunteers have been working nonstop to process applications, and the shelter is still encouraging people to sign up as fosters. “We are still taking in stray dogs, lost dogs,” Gonzalez told ABC7. “So in this time that we are unable to house dogs in those 30 kennels, the foster support is vital to us.” The shelter has asked potential adopters or fosters to bring their full household—including any existing dogs and children—for meet-and-greet visits, and to bring a valid photo ID (along with patience, as the team continues to work through a surge in interest). The organization has also set up an Amazon wishlist for anyone wishing to donate supplies. Despite the chaos, Gonzalez said the situation has been a reminder of how much the community cares. “We’ve had people come from hours away just to help,” she said. “It’s been incredible.”

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Meet Kenya’s Viral Barber Who Trades Clippers for Shovels

On the side of a rural road at the edge of Nairobi’s urban sprawl, a client steps into a shack lined not with mirrors and clippers, but tools of a different kind—agricultural shears, a wrench, a shovel. And that’s exactly what Ian Njenga came for. “I just use unconventional tools,” says Safari Martins, smiling as he slides the edge of a sharpened shovel across Njenga’s scalp. Moments later, a surprisingly clean, stylish haircut begins to take shape. Martins—known to his fans as Chief Safro—might be Kenya’s most famous barber. With roughly 1 million followers on both Instagram and TikTok, he’s turned roadside haircuts into viral video gold, blending precision styling with a flair for the absurd. A helper nearby films every snip, swipe, and swing on a smartphone. Each cut is part performance, part craftsmanship. From High School to Headlines Originally from Rwanda, Martins started cutting hair in high school back in 2018, using borrowed clippers to give trims outside classrooms and in cramped dorm rooms. Five years later, he swapped the clippers for machetes, kitchen knives, and even a hot iron box—now “blessed by village elders”—and added a camera to the mix. The results were weird, bold, and instantly shareable. He went viral for the tools, but his staying power comes from the stories. In recent videos, Martins layers in voiceovers inspired by African folk tales and traditions, mixing ancestral wisdom with Gen Z entertainment. “I’m motivated by African culture, by African stories,” he says. Haircuts and Influence In a city where a basic men’s cut often costs just $1, Martins charges nearly $12. But his clients don’t mind the premium. “If I compare him with other barbers his talent is next level,” says Njenga. “When I get shaved here I get very comfortable … while walking in the streets I get very confident.” The appeal is partly about the haircut—and partly about appearing on one of Kenya’s most engaging social media feeds. The promise of internet fame, even for a few seconds, is part of the draw. Influencer barbers are a growing trend in Kenya, as social media use explodes. According to DataReportal, Kenya added nearly 5 million new social media users between January 2023 and January 2025—a jump of almost 50%. That’s opened the door for more creators to make real money online. A June 2025 brief from the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis found that 15% of online content creators in the country now rely on it as their primary source of income. Fame, But Not Fortune But even with millions of views and high engagement, Martins says barber influencers aren’t treated the same as other creators when it comes to sponsorships and pay. “Barbers get viral on social media but I feel like they are not respected,” he says. “You are not paid as a content creator, even though you have the views, even if you have the engagement.” Gaming, education, and lifestyle creators are often better positioned for brand deals, according to influencer financing firm Fundmates, because of broader commercial appeal. Still, Martins isn’t slowing down. He keeps sharpening his tools, filming new videos, and chasing the next cut—part barber, part performer, part digital storyteller. Just don’t expect him to pick up a pair of clippers anytime soon.

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“Just Look at the Way She’s Looking at Him”: Woman’s Final Attempt to Return Lost Wedding Photo

Nearly a decade after stumbling across a tiny black-and-white wedding photo on the floor of a shop, Donna Stocking still can’t bring herself to let it go. “This is almost my last try,” she said. “But to be honest, I can't throw it away because, just look at the way she is looking at him in the picture — this is someone's history.” Stocking, who lives in Stoke Ferry, England, found the passport-sized photo in or near the entrance of Artichoke, a boutique women’s clothing store in The Passage in Ely, Cambridgeshire, where she was working around 2017. The image shows a young couple—he appears to be wearing a naval uniform, she’s fair-haired and wearing a hat—locked in a moment that looks like it came from their wedding day. Now, years later, she’s once again sharing the photo on social media, hoping that someone might recognise the couple or know their family. “I think they look like they’re in their early 20s, and maybe it was taken in the 1960s or later, but I’m not sure,” she said. “Whoever they are, or whenever it was taken, just look at the way she is looking at him? I really hope they are still together.” Stocking describes herself as a “photo fan” and has a personal collection of old photographs, but said this one has always stood out. “It’s clearly a wedding photo,” she said. “I’d been sorting through my pictures, and this is one I just can’t throw away.” She suspects it may have slipped out of someone’s purse during a visit to the shop and has tried in the past to post it on Facebook, though with no luck. Her latest post in an Ely community group is a renewed attempt to reach someone—anyone—who might recognise the couple. “It’s such a lovely photograph, isn’t it?” she said. “Wouldn’t it be great to find them, or maybe their children, if they had them, and reunite it?” If that doesn’t happen, the photo will stay right where it’s been for the last seven years—in the hands of someone who’s not ready to give up on its story just yet.

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Gentle Giant Rescue Dog Finds Forever Home After Three-Year Wait

After nearly three years in RSPCA kennels and two separate shelter moves, a six-year-old lurcher named Alvin has finally found a home—and a sofa to call his own. The tan-and-white lurcher cross was rescued in May 2022 after being injured during hunting. His previous owner failed to seek treatment, and Alvin was taken in by the RSPCA’s Warrington, Halton & St Helens branch in the West Midlands. But despite his “adorable couch potato” charm, no one came forward to adopt him. He became one of the RSPCA’s longest-staying dogs, overlooked time and again even after several appeals. Legally, he couldn’t be put up for adoption until February 2024, when his former owner—who has since been banned from keeping animals—finally signed him over to the charity. By the end of 2024, Alvin was moved to the RSPCA’s Preston branch in Lancashire in hopes of giving him a better shot at finding a forever home. Within two months, it worked. Alan Eastham, who lives near Preston, spotted Alvin’s profile on the RSPCA website while browsing for a new companion. The family had recently lost their border terrier, and his stepdaughter was missing the presence of a dog around the house. “I spotted Alvin, who was described by the RSPCA as a ‘gentle giant,’” Alan said. “I’d always fancied having a lurcher and he just seemed to tick all the right boxes.” Still, Alvin had some adjusting to do. After so long in kennels, he was nervous around other dogs and needed time to settle in. “We've done a lot of training to help him overcome some of his fears, mainly around other dogs,” Alan said. “Now we've got to the stage where he'll walk past them on the other side of the road.” Over time, Alvin’s personality came to the surface. “As the months went on, his personality really started to shine through,” Alan said. “I can open a wrapper in the kitchen and he'll be asleep somewhere else, hear it and be next to me before I know it!” These days, Alvin enjoys a peaceful routine: three short walks a day, Sunday visits to a dog-friendly café, and long, uninterrupted naps. “He’s definitely a couch potato,” Alan said. But after years of waiting, Alvin finally has a couch—and a home—to call his own.

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A Startup Helped 7,000 Canadians Land Roles as TV and Film Extras in 2025

They’re in the stands during hockey brawls in Shoresy, singing carols in Hot Frosty, or quietly passing by in dozens of Hallmark movies. These background actors—aka extras—are everywhere in Canadian film and television. And in 2025, more than 7,000 of them found work through a single platform: Background Work. The Ottawa-based startup launched just last year, aiming to fix one of the film industry’s messiest problems—coordinating extras. According to CEO Ilona Smyth, it’s often harder than casting a lead role. “Negotiating a very large deal for a lead, versus trying to get 50 people to show up to set as background actors?” Smyth said. “Doing the latter is much harder, and there’s no tool.” So she built one. After 20 years working in casting, Smyth teamed up with Saman Raza, who runs a tech consulting firm with partner Bryan Belanger. Together, they created a streamlined platform that connects aspiring background actors with film and TV productions—no experience required. “What we’re trying to change is the perspective of what the background actors’ place is in the work of art of the film,” Smyth said. “They tend to be thought of last.” A Platform for the ‘Hardest to Cast’ Extras are the bodies that fill arenas, cafés, and sidewalks—an essential part of visual storytelling. But they’re notoriously difficult to book at scale, especially for one-day shoots or productions on tight timelines. Background Work’s platform simplifies the process. Prospective extras pay $99 per year to access vetted job listings, upload photos and videos, and get educational resources about working on set. Casting directors, in turn, get a searchable pool of pre-vetted talent they can book directly. For a show like Shoresy, having video footage of applicants skating helped casting directors avoid the usual guesswork. “There’s no limit to how this could be used,” Smyth said. “Because films are being done the same all over the world.” So far, most of the platform’s work has been in Ontario. But demand is growing. In addition to productions like Hot Frosty and Shoresy, the platform recently helped book extras for Michael Cera’s directorial debut starring Pamela Anderson, which began filming in November in Carleton Place, Ontario. The company, still only around 10 people, also has a large upcoming project in Manitoba and plans to expand nationwide. Tech Meets Casting Raza said the partnership between her team and Smyth’s worked because it fused deep industry experience with software development. “We’re in a kind of marriage,” she said. “Ilona’s the artist, and we’re the paintbrush.” Unlike broader casting tools like CastingBook, which focus on speaking roles, Background Work is built specifically for extras—the roles that are often hardest to plan, fill, and manage. That niche, the founders say, has been their strength. The platform’s timing is also notable. While Canada’s film industry is booming thanks to tax credits and international streaming hits like North of North and Heated Rivalry, the ecosystem is facing pressure. New uncertainty around trade—sparked by Donald Trump’s push for 100-percent tariffs on movies—has left producers watching closely. And behind the scenes, Smyth and Raza are already thinking ahead. Extras often need to submit personal information for tax credit eligibility, but the current system lacks proper security protocols. One of Background Work’s next goals is to modernize and secure that data exchange. A Bigger Role for Extras While extras may be the silent figures in the background of a scene, Background Work is working to shift that perception—starting with better infrastructure, more visibility, and smoother access to paid work. For many aspiring actors, it’s a first step on set. For the industry, it’s one less logistical headache. And if things go according to plan, 2026 could be an even busier year—for both background actors and the platform helping them get hired.

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Global Celebrations Mark New Year With Hopes For Peace In 2026

From dazzling fireworks to quiet moments of hope, people across the globe rang in 2026 with a mix of celebration and reflection. In many cities, the new year was a chance to come together—whether to mark a fresh start, honour shared losses, or simply to find joy after a difficult year. In Paris, hundreds of thousands gathered on the Champs-Élysées, where the Arc de Triomphe lit up with a countdown and a colourful light display. Among the crowd was 27-year-old tourist Taissiya Girda, who said she hopes the new year will bring peace. “I would like to see happy people around me, no war anywhere,” she said. “Russia, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, I want everybody to be happy and in peace.” Similar sentiments echoed across other parts of the world, where ongoing conflicts and recent tragedies cast a shadow over the celebrations. In Gaza, where the war between Israel and Hamas has displaced hundreds of thousands, Mirvat Abed Al-Aal, who fled the southern city of Rafah, said: “The war humiliated us.” Many Palestinians voiced a shared wish—that the fighting would end in 2026. Moments of Defiance and Solidarity In Sydney, fireworks lit up the harbour as usual, but security was tighter this year following the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach that killed 15 people during Hanukkah celebrations. Police officers carrying automatic rifles were posted visibly around the city, an unusual sight in Australia. At 11 p.m., crowds observed a minute of silence in solidarity with the Jewish community. “We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime,” said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns, urging residents not to stay away from festivities. “Extremists would interpret smaller crowds as a victory.” Elsewhere in the region, Indonesia scaled back its New Year’s Eve events in respect for victims of recent natural disasters. Floods and landslides across Sumatra have killed more than 1,100 people. On the island of Bali, traditional dancers took the place of fireworks as a quieter form of celebration. Softer Celebrations in Europe Some cities in Europe also opted for a gentler tone. In Athens and Nicosia, traditional fireworks were replaced with drone shows, soft pyrotechnics, and light installations. Officials said the move was intended to create a more welcoming environment for children and pets. In Rome, people celebrated with music at Circus Maximus and a fireworks display by the Colosseum. Pope Leo XIV closed out the year with a call for Rome to remain open and kind to foreigners and the vulnerable. And in Scotland—where New Year’s is celebrated as Hogmanay—First Minister John Swinney urged people to embrace the spirit of Robert Burns’s Auld Lang Syne and show kindness through small acts. Lights, Music and a Sworn-In Mayor in New York In New York, thousands braved the cold to watch the iconic ball drop in Times Square. The glowing sphere, weighing over 5,600 kilograms and covered in 5,000 crystals, marked the countdown to midnight. Before the drop, Australian singer Tones and I performed John Lennon’s Imagine, a moment of calm reflection for visitors from across the U.S. and beyond. Just after midnight, the city quietly welcomed its new mayor. Zohran Mamdani was sworn in during a private ceremony held in a decommissioned subway station, a few kilometres from the celebrations above. Looking ahead, the U.S. will mark its 250th anniversary on July 4, 2026, with major events planned across the country.

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'I Spent Christmas Doing Spreadsheets, I Love It': UK Excel Champ Eyes World Title

Most people spent the holidays eating leftovers or watching films on the couch. Ha Dang spent his Christmas knee-deep in spreadsheets—and loved every minute of it. The 33-year-old from Scunthorpe was crowned the UK’s top Excel user in September and went on to place fifth at the Microsoft Excel World Championships in Las Vegas last month. Now, he’s back in training, aiming for the number one spot when the 2026 competition kicks off. "It's about keeping my skills sharp," he said. "I don't feel like it's a chore, it's something I love to do. I'm glad to have had the time over Christmas to do it." Dang works for a stockbroking firm in Leeds and only started competing in the Excel e-sport last February. In less than a year, he made it to the global finals at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas, where 24 finalists battled it out in front of a live audience. “It was an amazing experience. I got fifth position, but it was just great to be there,” he said. “Vegas was grand; everything was extravagant. By the time you get to the final 24, the competition is very fierce, because some of the guys have been doing it for years. Just to be able to sit amongst them was a privilege." More than 250 Excel fans from around the world took part in qualifying rounds for the 2025 championship. Dang said the community he discovered through the sport has become the best part of the journey. "To be able to find something I can do so well and to find so many people who share the same interest as me, that's the best bit of the journey," he said. Yes, Excel Is a Sport Now Competitive Excel may sound like a niche hobby, but it has grown into a full-fledged spectator sport, complete with live audiences, timed matches, and wrestling-style belts for the winners. The top prize in Las Vegas was $5,000 (£3,737), which went to Diarmuid Early of Ireland, often referred to as the LeBron James of Excel. So how does a spreadsheet become a sport? At its core, competitive Excel is about solving logic puzzles. Each round begins with a batch of messy data and a storyline to frame the task. Contestants are given a spreadsheet file and 30 minutes to solve as many problems as possible. The problems range from sorting fictional royal battles to calculating poker hands or navigating virtual mazes. There are seven levels of difficulty, each with increasing complexity and a set point value. Harder questions earn more points. In case of a tie, speed is the decider—whoever finishes first wins. The goal isn’t just to solve the puzzle, but to do it in the most efficient, scalable way possible. That’s what separates top competitors like Dang from your average office spreadsheet user. Training for 2026 The next qualifying rounds begin this month, and Dang is already back at it. With a full year of training and one world final under his belt, he’s aiming higher this time. He may have only discovered competitive Excel last year, but Dang’s already found his stride—and a global network of friends and rivals who feel the same way about formulas, macros, and pivot tables. And if that means spending his holidays deep in data? He’s not complaining.

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Not Just Selling Books: How Two Indie Shops Are Rewriting the Rules

In a retail world dominated by Amazon and big chains, two independent bookshops in England are proving there's still plenty of life — and community — on the high street. The Heath Bookshop in King’s Heath, Birmingham, and That Little Bookshop in Stafford are thriving by offering something online giants can’t: a real, human experience. Run by Catherine Gale and Claire Dawes, The Heath Bookshop opened its doors in September 2022. The pair met on a “how to run a bookshop” course in 2021 and turned a shared dream into a full-fledged business. In 2025, they sold around 12,000 books and were named Independent Bookshop of the Year. Their shop is part bookstore, part café, and part community hub. “We normally have maybe two or three events a week,” said Gale. “We do events in the shop but then we also hire external venues.” Those events have included author and actor Richard Armitage, and a packed crowd at The Alexandra Theatre with Rick Astley. Gale and Dawes also run a full literature and music festival, teaming up with other local independents. Next year’s lineup includes bestselling authors like Ali Smith, Douglas Stuart, and Matt Haig. For them, the business is as much about people as it is about books. “We do a menopause café, we do a death café where people can sit round tables with a cup of tea in a safe space and talk about their experiences and learn from others… that’s a massive thing for people,” said Dawes. “We’re part of events like Queens Heath Pride,” added Gale. “It’s really important for us to represent the LGBTQ+ community.” That sense of community is central to their success — and it’s a theme echoed 100 kilometres north in Stafford, where Cassie Gerard opened That Little Bookshop in August. Her space, filled with books, plush seating, and a fireplace, has sold over 7,000 titles since opening. She was recently recognized with the Best New Business award by local MP Leigh Ingham. “I’d like to think I create an experience,” Gerard said. “It’s not just about buying a book, you can smell it as you’re coming through the door, it’s the nostalgia of the bookshop, it’s the nostalgia of a physical book.” Her store includes a reading room, shelves of special editions, and a selection of gifts and accessories. “It looks like home from home,” she said. “You’ve got the fire, you’ve got the comfy seating, you’ve got the nice lighting.” She hosts three book clubs already and is planning a coffee bar, plus writing and calligraphy workshops. And she’s noticed that customers aren’t just visiting her store — they’re sticking around. “It’s bringing a lot of people in [to Stafford] just to come to the bookshop, and whilst they’re in the bookshop, they then visit all the other independent businesses.” Gerard is clear on what sets small shops apart. “It’s a space for community, for connection, and it’s a customer service that you don’t get online,” she said. “We can do something that online algorithms can’t.” With Amazon reportedly accounting for around half of all print book sales in the UK in 2020, it’s no small feat for independents to hold their own. But shops like these aren’t just surviving. They’re building something that can’t be packaged and delivered: community, connection, and a reason to linger. “Every single town should have an independent bookstore,” said Gerard. And if the success of these two is anything to go by, that idea is more than just wishful thinking.

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Why Thousands Around the World Start the New Year by Jumping Into Freezing Water

On Vancouver’s English Bay Beach, the first day of 2025 brought 13,000 people — many in costume, some spanning generations — to hurl themselves into 44°F (6.6°C) water. It was the 105th edition of the Vancouver Polar Bear Swim, one of the oldest and largest cold-water plunges in the world. And it’s not just for thrill-seekers. “It truly is a fresh start for the new year for a lot of people,” said Tanya Donaldson, who helps organize the event through Vancouver’s Board of Parks and Recreation. “As big as it is, it creates its own special community.” That mix of discomfort, joy, and collective ritual has helped polar plunges spread far beyond Vancouver. In the Netherlands, it’s followed by soup. In Scotland, it’s known as a “Loony Dook.” In Boston, the L Street Brownies have been diving into icy waters since 1904. But while the spectacle continues to grow — and cold plunging explodes on social media as a supposed health trend — experts say the science behind it is still catching up. The truth? It feels amazing for many, but it’s not risk-free. From Greek discipline to global tradition For Lisa Pantages, the Vancouver plunge is more than just tradition — it’s family. Her grandfather, Peter Pantages, started it in 1920 after moving from Greece to Canada. Swimming in the ocean kept him connected to home. He even convinced ocean liner companies to let him dive overboard daily during voyages, and when the water was too rough, they’d ice down a bathtub instead. Lisa has done the plunge every year of her life. “There’s an energy of excitement with a little dash of fear,” she said. “When you watch all these people running out of the water, you see how proud they are and connected to the rest of the crowd. In a way, it’s pretty amazing.” That sense of shared experience is part of what makes the event so magnetic — even for first-timers. But it’s also worth knowing what actually happens to your body when you jump in. What cold water does to you The first thing you’ll likely feel? A gasp. Cold water triggers a “cold shock” response, a sudden jolt to your nervous system. Your heart rate and blood pressure spike, your breathing speeds up, and your body kicks into fight-or-flight mode. “It’s so debilitating,” said Heather Massey, an extreme environments researcher at the University of Portsmouth. “When you accidentally fall into cold water, lots of people start to panic. That panic can mean that people inhale water, and that can cause a drowning process.” Cold shock peaks within 30 seconds and typically eases after about three to five minutes. But for people with heart or respiratory issues, even those few minutes can be dangerous. That’s why doctors and scientists recommend not jumping straight in, but instead entering slowly. It helps you control your breathing and avoid panic. “When I walk in, immediately I start exhaling,” said anesthesiologist and cold-water advocate Mark Harper. “Basically, I’m telling my body, ‘I got this.’” Going in gradually gives your body time to adapt — and for many regular plungers, that adaptation can stick around. People who dip repeatedly often find their initial reaction softens within just a few tries, and it can last for months. So should you do it? If you’re healthy, informed, and prepared? Probably. “With the proper precautions, a one-time polar plunge is really just having a bit of fun,” Harper said. “Fun is good for you.” But experts warn against pushing too hard, especially if you're copying influencers who preach longer, tougher plunges. “You don’t need to be in there more than the duration of the cold shock,” Haman said. “You do your 30 seconds, then maybe extend to a minute and a half. That’s enough.” And most importantly, listen to your body. “At the end of the day, this is all about self-awareness,” Haman said. “It’s about you listening to your body and optimizing your capacity to put yourself in discomfort — but doing it safely.” Even if the science isn’t settled, the smiles on the beach — and in chilly waters around the world — suggest something about it keeps people coming back. It might be the thrill. It might be the crowd. Or it might just be the chance to start a new year with a story worth telling.

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Why “Auld Lang Syne” Still Brings the World Together at Midnight

As the clock strikes midnight each New Year’s Eve, voices around the world rise in unison to sing Auld Lang Syne. The words may be half-remembered, the melody slightly off, but the effect is universal — a moment of shared nostalgia, joy, and connection. Michael Pedersen, Edinburgh’s current Poet Laureate, believes the song’s enduring power lies not in tradition for tradition’s sake, but in how deeply it resonates across cultures, generations, and geographies. “For generations, it’s been sung at New Year because it’s perfect for it,” Pedersen told CNN. “There’s nothing in the song that dictates it should be sung then. People just had an emotional compass for it.” Written down by Scottish poet Robert Burns in 1788, the phrase auld lang syne loosely translates to “old, long since” — or more plainly, “for old times’ sake.” Pedersen calls it “a tale that looks back at childhood friendship, rekindled with a handshake and a goodwill drink.” “It’s a song of reunion, not parting,” he said. “It’s about celebrating happy days gone by and the glorious bonfire in the belly when you come back together.” From Scotland to the World For Pedersen, watching Auld Lang Syne travel the globe each year is something of a personal thrill. “It’s like sending out the Scottish bat signal,” he said. The song’s roots are proudly Scottish, but its reach is global — sung in dozens of countries every December 31. “Everyone has made it their own,” Pedersen said. “What a beautiful expression of art and humanity — to write something national and deeply personal, and have people project their own lives into it.” It’s not just the lyrics or melody that carry it forward. It’s the way it’s performed. “You join hands, you form a circle, you create a physical expression of friendship,” Pedersen said. “It’s a mellifluous, song-sized hug that’s survived the centuries.” He notes that the popular choreography — the moment where people cross their arms and clasp hands with neighbors — traditionally comes later than people think. “You hold hands for the first five verses,” he said. “Then on the fifth, everyone crosses their arms, still holding their neighbors’ hands, and runs in and out of the circle. Of course, culprits and rogues will run in at various points — that’s part of the beauty, the calamity of it.” A Song With a Mysterious Past The authorship of Auld Lang Syne is still debated. Burns claimed he heard a version sung at an inn and simply wrote it down, later adapting it. But how much of the final version is truly his? “We have no evidence of how much he adapted,” Pedersen said. “It could have been a word or two, or a massive Burns rewrite.” After Burns’ death, his publisher altered the music again — shaping the version most people know today. “Even now, critics argue over whether Burns was leading us astray, and it was his all along,” Pedersen said. “It remains a beautiful, mellifluous mystery.” A New Poem for a New Year In the spirit of Auld Lang Syne, Pedersen has written his own poem to honor friendship: Boys Holding Hands. Inspired by Burns and his own lifelong love of friendship, the poem is about shared memories, emotional openness, and the quiet act of holding hands to mark what’s been and what’s to come. “There’s a real bravado to masculinity that causes us to trap a lot of our emotions in our belly and dissolve them like a piece of gristle until they’re voiceless,” he said. “We have to let all that soppy, sumptuous sentimentality spill out to make ourselves better, more equipped, more loving human beings.” Just like Auld Lang Syne, it’s not about saying goodbye — it’s about staying connected, honoring what matters, and walking into the next year hand in hand.

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