The Germans call New Year’s Eve “Wild”, in honor of Pope Sylvester I, who died on December 31, 335. According to legend, the unbelievers around him drowned with fish bones. . Therefore, some superstitious people claim that fish should be avoided that night or at least eaten very carefully.
Read more: A German tip for your New Year’s resolutions
However, another superstition nullifies these fears. Tents are considered a charm of luck. Therefore, this fish is for many Germans a typical dish of Silvester. It is believed that keeping a tent scale in your wallet ensures that it will be filled with cash throughout the year.
These lucky charms, combined with the good resolutions they like to make for the New Year, will make 2020 an extraordinary year, at least that’s what we wish you all.
Click on the gallery above to discover more German traditions on New Year’s Eve. Prost Neujahr!
You can find more information about Meet the Germans on YouTube or at dw.com/meetthegermans.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
With its rich fireworks and men dressed in their traditional kilts parading through the streets, Scotland celebrates the ‘Hogmanay’ winter festival on 31 December. Precisely at midnight, people walk from door to door singing the ancient Celtic folk song “Auld Lang Syne”. And if they ring the doorbell, they’ll give you luck and possibly a bottle of whiskey to share.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year!
Following the millennial tradition, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark gives a New Year’s Eve speech at 6 pm, broadcast on all radio and television stations. Then there are lavish dinners, where piles of food are accompanied by a lot of champagne and end with the “Kransekage,” a garnished almond cake. Those who can still get up at midnight, jump out of their chairs and reach the new year.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year in Germany: Silvester
In Germany, people exchange small gifts that are supposed to bring good luck for the new year, such as marzipan pigs or four-leaf clovers. There is also the tradition of melting small lead figurines and throwing them into the water to read next year’s fortune. And everyone is involved in watching a British comedy called ‘Dinner for One’, a tradition that the people of Britain can finally take part in this year.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
All the best for the new year
In Austria, the famous traditional Danube waltz dominates the New Year festivities, in which people literally waltz the new year. This is usually preceded by the consumption of so-called “sweet fish”, a cookie to give luck to the new year. However, it is crucial to start eating the fin, as otherwise your good fortune could get away from you.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
The Swiss do things their way
In Switzerland, people celebrate New Year’s Eve with parades, drums and as much noise as possible, which is believed to ward off evil spirits and demons. But there are fewer fireworks than elsewhere. The Swiss, who try to adapt to the cold weather, prefer to have a huge bonfire. Dinner usually consists of the traditional cheese fondue, a tradition that has begun to be passed on to neighboring countries.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
At midnight in Spain, people swallow a bunch of clocks every time. You don’t have to worry about drowning them or eating too much or too little of them; otherwise, the new year may not come out the way you want it to. In cities and towns across the country, people gather in the central squares retiring with grapes in their mouths. Around five in the morning they eat churros, a traditional fried pastry.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
The French are committed to quality food, sumptuous champagne and good wine. A special treat for the occasion is foie gras. There aren’t many fireworks in France on New Year’s Eve, as the fireworks are reserved for the French national holiday on July 14th. Parisians also like to walk around their illuminated buildings at midnight, such as the Eiffel Tower.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
In Italy, gentlemen want to present their ladies with red underwear for the new year. In the evening, there is a rich dinner, with the traditional dish of pork with lentils. As in other parts of Europe, pigs are believed to give you luck. Another way to invite good luck for the new year is to practice throwing old rags out the window at midnight.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
In the Czech Republic, people celebrate the new year with sparkling wine while eating small sandwiches called “chlebicky”. Hoping to predict the future, they also cut the apples in half and examine the wells. It is considered a bad sign if the wells form a cross, but if they form a star, it means that your path ahead will be clear. Later at midnight, fireworks light up the capital Prague.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
In an attempt to ward off evil spirits, Bulgarians celebrate with a lot of noise, with men disguised as monsters dancing in bell-bottoms. His dance is supposed to bring a rich harvest in the new year. People are also patting their backs, which is believed to guarantee good health in the new year.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
happy New Year!
For many Greeks, New Year’s Eve means only one thing: playing. The winner of the night is expected to get rich in the new year, while the loser will be lucky in love. Bakers also hide a coin in the traditional New Year’s bread; it is believed that the person who gets the piece with the coin becomes a millionaire.
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New Year’s Eve in Europe: more than champagne and fireworks
Happy New Year
“Father Noel” brings gifts to children in Turkey as adults open all the taps in the home to make sure good luck flows through the new year. As in other countries, the ladies wear red underwear while candy is passed on to make sure next year will be calm and, well, sweet.
Author: Silke Wünsch
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