New Year in Germany

As you might expect, especially from a culture with a reputation for precision in all things, New Year in Germany is steeped in tradition that is followed to the letter every year. Much like any other group of celebrants in another country, residents gather to make merry in bars and city squares all over, but there are a couple of unique customs that make the holiday – known as “Silvester” because it is the feast of St. Sylvester – have a particular flair.

Sure, you can gather with the locals for the fireworks at Brandenburg Gate, but wouldn’t you rather find out what’s in store for you in the coming twelve months instead? The show will go on no matter what – and you will want to see it – but there are three things you’ll want to make certain fit into your partying:

Bleigiessen

A major part of the celebration is the traditional “fortune telling” may receive. Someone warms a chunk of lead until it is a molten liquid, then pours it gently into a bath of cold water. As the red-hot metal cools, it begins to form shapes by which – according to tradition – one can tell what the future will bring. If it took on the form of a ship, the recipient would look forward to traveling. Something resembling a pig, on the other hand, is said to mean there will be plenty of food and good luck.

Food and Drink

What is a party without something good to eat and a beverage to wash it down with? For the Germans, the evening is filled with several traditional entrées – fish like carp or herring are often the main course for the meal, paired with cabbage and carrots (a sign of prosperity). As the clock strikes midnight, hugs and kisses are followed by consumption of jelly-filled pastries and a glass of sekt (sparkling wine). To some, this is also a time to finish off dinner: leaving some of the food on your plate and eating it after the turn of the New Year is thought to increase the possibility of a windfall in the months to come.

Dinner for One

This odd custom centers around the airing of a classic skit by two British actors. Though the program has never been shown in the United Kingdom, it is performed entirely in English – and memorized by nearly all Germans. It is shown on television, often on a continuous loop throughout the day, and brings its viewers to uproarious laughter every time. The signature catch phrase (“The same procedure as every year?”) is woven into conversation by natives throughout the New Year celebration. In some homes, residents even prepare a special dinner to match that of the lead character.