Silvester: Ringing in the New Year, German-Style
© Colleen Thomas Ryor
How did most Germans ring in the new year last night? Drinking champagne, or Sekt, sparkling white wine (Germans do make the distinction more often than English speakers, who tend to carelessly label any sparkling white wine as Champagne), and watching fireworks while eating snacks probably topped the list. At midnight, many churchbells (Kirchenglocken) start ringing, and in some towns, neighbors come outside to wish each other other well and toast each other by saying, "Prost Neujahr!"Many German families buy their own fireworks (rockets, sparklers, etc.) and go outside into the night to set them off at twelve o'clock. While waiting for the clock to strike midnight, they may typically eat party foods such as sausages, pretzel sticks, pistachios, and home-cooked foods. Germans call the New Year's Eve celebration Silvester. Many people in Germany love to go out and party just as we do here in North America, but there are some more traditional celebrations in small village settings, as well.
In any case, Frohes Neujahr! Happy New Year!
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