A German New Year’s Celebration

If there is one thing about celebrating the new year in Germany that stands out for me, it would have to be the fireworks.  A few days before the 31st, the stores put fireworks on sale.  People buy them up like crazy.  Then, starting at six in the evening on New Year’s Eve, the night sky lights up in a smoky haze, culminating at midnight with an almost unbelievable amount of fireworks lighting up the night sky in every direction you turn.  Just imagine everyone on your street simultaneously setting off fireworks on the sidewalk in front of their house, and you will have an idea of what ringing in a German new year is like.

Another fun tradition in Germany is called Bleigießen.  This is a fortune-telling tradition.  Basically, you take a small lead figure and melt it in a spoon over a candle.  When it becomes liquid, you pour it quickly into a bowl of cold water.  Then, you look at the shape it has formed and that determines your fortune in the new year.  Unfortunately, my figure ended up as an unidentifiable object…so 2011 still holds many secrets for me.

Here are a few pictures of my own little fireworks show!

 

 

Würzburg, One Last Christmas Memory

After weeks of fun and glühwein, the time has come to take down the tree and put the decorations away for another year.  Before looking on to 2011 and preparing for the changes a new year always brings, I wanted to share these pictures of the last Christmas market I made it to in Würzburg.

In spite of the gray rainy skies, it ended up being one of the best Christmas markets I visited; the perfect place to find a few last minute gifts or just relax and enjoy the Christmas spirit.

To find out more about the city and sites to see: Making the Most of a Day in Würzburg