Wo feiert man Silvester? die Silvesterparty Man feiert zu Hause oder in einem Restaurant.

die Dekorationen die Papierschlangen der Papierhut die Luftballoons Man dekoriert mit Luftballons und Papierschlangen. Viele Leute tragen einen Papierhut auf dem Kopf.

Was isst man zu Silvester? der Karpfen der Berliner Man isst Karpfen – das ist ein Süßwasserfisch. Man isst Berliner – das ist ein Fettgebäck mit Marmelade oder Pflaumenmus gefüllt.

Was trinkt man zu Silvester?

der Champagner / der Sekt Champagner is strictly used only for genuine French champagne. Sekt refers to any sparkling wine or champagne, made in Germany or elsewhere.

der Kork der Korkenzieher

der Trinkspruch / der Toast das Glas

einen Toast ausbringen toasten

die Bowle Das traditionelle Silvestergetränk ist die Bowle aus Weißwein und mit Obst.

Feuerzangenbowle (Flaming Fire Tongs Punch) Popular traditional German New Year’s drink Hot punch Main ingredients = Rotwein, Rum, Orangen, Zitronen, Zimt und Gewürznelken (red wine, rum, oranges, lemons, cinnamon and cloves)

Glühwein (Hot Mulled Wine) Popular traditional German holiday drink Heated wine beverage Basically the same as the flaming fire tongs punch, except for the rum

Was macht man zu Silvester?

der Knaller das Feuerwerk

Was macht man, wenn es Mittelnacht ist? der Kuss Man wünscht ein gutes neues Jahr und küsst sich. Man trinkt ein Glas Sekt und sagt “Prosit Neujahr”.

Was wünscht man zu Silvester? Einen guten Rutsch und ein gesundes neues Jahr! “Rutsch” = literally means “slide”  but is meant here as a good “trip” or “journey” in the new year

Neujahr Phrasen auf Englisch auf Deutsch beginning of the year turn of the year end of the year in the new year in 2014 the year 2014 der Jahresanfang der Jahreswechsel das Jahresende im neuen Jahr im Jahr 2014 das Jahr 2014

New Year’s Resolution(s)! der Neujahrvorsatz (-sätze)

German and Austrian New Year’s Traditions

Silvester (German Name for New Year’s Eve) December 31st = the Feast day of der heilige Silvester (Saint Sylvester) Was a Catholic Pope (Papst) in the Roman Empire from 314 until his death on December 31, 335 Converted Emperor Constantine to Christianity = the first Christian emperor of Rome

Silvester (German Name for New Year’s Eve) The “New Year” was not always on January 1st Used to be on March 25th = Annunciation Day 1582 = new calendar was introduced that made the new year start on January 1st This new New Year’s Eve date coincided with the Feast Day of St. Sylvester (which already existed)  that’s why the Germans call New Year’s Eve Silvester or Silvesterabend

Zwölf Rauhnächte (12 Hairy Nights) Instead of recognizing a single day as the winter solstice, the Germanic tribes observed twelve Rauhnächte – hairy nights, so called due to the furry forms of the deep winter demons. Bringing very little sun to the northern regions, the twelve Rauhnächte were considered days outside of time, when the solar and lunar years were allowed to re-synchronize.

Zwölf Rauhnächte (12 Hairy Nights) Silvester took place right in the middle of the twelve Rauhnächte and was the night of the god Wotan’s wild hunt, a time of particular commotion and celebration.

Feuerwerk This is where fireworks come into play Making noise is key: the ruckus of fireworks, firecrackers, drums, whip-cracking and banging kitchen utensils has been driving away evil winter spirits since the days of the old Germanic tribes

Bleigiessen = Lead Pouring Fortune-telling tradition Small amount of lead is melted in a tablespoon and poured into cold water Lead hardens into different shapes, which are supposed to be signs of what is to come in the new year Bleigiessen – YouTube Clip

Bleigiessen = Lead Pouring Example shapes and their meanings: Ball = luck will roll your way Anchor = you’ll need help Cross = death Eagle = career success Flower = new friendships will develop

Other “Fortune-Telling” Traditions Swing an object like a necklace or watch and ask a “yes” or “no” question Swings in a circle = answer is yes Swings vertically = answer is no Swings horizontally = answer is uncertain

Other “Fortune-Telling” Traditions Bibelstechen = involves opening the Bible to a random page, closing one’s eyes and pointing to a random verse. The verse should provide some information or advice for the coming year.

Neujahrskarten (New Year’s Cards) Many Germans prefer to send New Year’s cards over Christmas cards Many use these cards to tell family and friends about events in their life during the past year

die Fledermaus (The Bat) Popular German operetta (1874) Created by the Austrian composer Johann Strauss Many parts of the story (like the masquerade ball) as well as songs from the operetta (like the “Drinking Song”) make this a popular choice for ringing in the New Year

im Feuerstrom der Reben (In the Firestorm of the Vines)

Dinner for One “Dinner for One” = 14-minute British stage sketch from the 1920s Television version first aired on German TV in 1963 Became an annual German tradition ever since Lufthansa even shows it on all of its flights between December 28th and January 2nd so that nobody misses it

Dinner for One