Silvester

Germans refer to New Year's Eve as Silvester, and they heartily celebrate it! Silvester comes from the name of a Saint, born in Rome, who is said to be responsible for Emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity. In thanks, Constantine made Silvester a bishop, gave Silvester the city of Rome, and bid him to build a church there. Silvester later became the pope and built the original St. Peter's basilica in Rome. It is because of Silvester that the Vatican is near to Rome.

This year, we hosted a dinner party with friends. I can blame any poverty we suffer this year on my not serving a whole fish at said dinner party. It is said that if one places a few fish scales in one's pocket, then financial security for the New Year is assured. Chimney sweeps are ubiquitous at this time of year and their images are featured on chocolates and figurines appear in floral arrangements. In fact, a chimney sweep is often invited to a wedding here so that he can receive a blown kiss from the bride and shake hands with the groom. If you listen to Bert's song from Mary Poppins, you'll learn of the lore surrounding the luck of sweeps! White polka-dotted, red-capped mushrooms are also considered to be a symbol of good luck as well as the lucky pig (read last year's NYE post to learn about the lucky pig).

Another custom involves Feuerzangenbowle, a traditional Silvester drink in which a rum-soaked sugar cone is set alight to drip into a bowl of mulled wine; it's divine.



One of the most popular customs surrounding Silvester involves Bleigiessen. Bleigiessen involves melting specially shaped lead tokens in a spoon over an open flame. The tokens typically assume the shape of lucky things like mushrooms or a chimney sweep's hat. Once melted, the lead is poured into a ready bowl of cold water where it instantly takes on a new shape. The fun of the game is in deciphering the new shape. Once the shape is decided upon, a booklet included in the Bleigiessen kit is consulted in order to predict your future for the New Year. It's only superstition, but it's fun nonetheless.

It was decided that this looked like the Virgin Mary holding a pistol. This wasn't listed in the code booklet!

Here's video that clearly shows the process (I found this one of YouTube):


Germans let you know what break loose at midnight. I believe even the smallest German town could give any major U.S. city a run for its money where fireworks are concerned. The display often lasts for up to an hour, and many people take to the streets lighting their own fireworks. We followed suit this year and were surprised at the quality of fireworks sold to the common man. Knowing that many children would be at our dinner party, I purchased a firework that looked like a gigantic cannon. I was certain that something spectacular would alight from it. Our party walked to the banks of the Rhein and set about making noise. When J lit the canister, it fizzed and hissed for some time before erupting...small plastic toys into the air!

This year, our neighbors who live directly opposite us must have spent three month's worth of salary on fireworks. They wheeled out load upon load of every kind of pyrotechnic one can imagine. They gave their grandson a bucket of cherry bombs and a lighter. He proceeded to light one after another in rapid procession and throw them at our friends' ground floor apartment. They made our walls rattle, and J and I were sure that our neighbors would come home to find plaster dust on every surface. The constant explosions give the feel of being caught in small arms fire. In between lighting daisy-chained fireworks, they filled their cups from the Feuerzangenbowle which they'd placed on a curb-side table. One of our neighbors shot lit fireworks from a specially constructed pistol!

Here's a video of our across the way neighbors taken from our bedroom window: