Tuesday, January 1, 2013

Germans celebrating Silvester - New Year's Eve

Maybe I should have told you a day earlier..... but anyhow.

I want to share with you German tradition for Silvester - New Year's Eve.

First of all, before the new year everybody wishes you "Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr". Meaning is Happy New Year but literally meaning is something like "have a good slide into the new year".

Not missing for decoration should be paper streamer (Luftschlangen)




Then lucky charms for New Year are:


- Pigs (Schwein)
- Chimney sweeper (Schornsteinfeger)
- Four-leaved clover (Vierblaettriges Kleeblatt)
- Poisonous toadstool (Fliegenpilz)



People present each other with these in various forms and shapes.


Some people also do "Bleigiessen" (lead pouring). A very German tradition where lead or tin is melted. You can buy these sets before Silvester. Then it's poured into cold water. And the lead quickly forms shapes. Now these shapes are interpreted and are telling you your fortune for the next year. Nowadays I guess most people don't take it too seriously but at one point like in the middle ages people did.

Then don't miss Pfannkuchen -basically filled doughnuts - which are also called Berliner. In Berlin nobody calls it Berliner like in the rest of Germany. For obvious reasons... we don't want to eat ourselves. :-)


At midnight people wish each other a Happy New Year (Frohes Neues Jahr) while cheering with sparkling wine or champagne.


I hope you enjoyed your Silvester Party and had a good start into the New Year!

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