A little insight into unique New Year's Eve traditions in Germany

Like everyone else in the world, Germany celebrates New Year's Eve in its own way. Many traditions are similar to those of other countries, such as "firecrackers" or shooting off flares. Some others are a little more unusual.

Here we present a few of the most interesting and maybe we provide you with a spontaneous New Year's Eve idea 😊

The most famous lucky charm: a deadly mushroom

As in many other European cultures, the toadstool is considered a symbol of good luck in Germany. The particular mushroom associated with New Year's Eve is the Amanita Muscaria, colloquially known as fly agaric, which is known for its red cap and white spots. Not only is this mushroom a famous Christmas and New Year's decoration, it is also highly poisonous and can have hallucinogenic effects when eaten. However, it is commonly associated with Christmas and New Year because it not only grows at the base of fir trees, but is also a popular food for reindeer.

The finding of such a mushroom in the forest is supposed to bring luck in the next year. So: go outside and try your luck 😊

Punch bowl

Another New Year's Eve tradition is drinking a punch on New Year's Eve. This typical punch is an obligatory drink during the celebrations and is prepared with alcohol, juice and cocktail fruit. There are countless variations and recipes, and some people also opt for a non-alcoholic punch.

Split opinion

The Germans call New Year's Eve "Silvester," in honor of Pope Sylvester I, who died on December 31 of the year 335. He is said to have choked on fish bones, which is why some superstitious people claim that you should avoid eating fish that night.

However, as is often the case, another superstition nullifies these fears. Namely, carp are considered a lucky charm and it is believed that a carp scale in the wallet guarantees that it will be filled with money, so for many other Germans this fish is a typical New Year's Eve dish.

A future as strong as lead

Another curious tradition is the melting of lead to see the future. People heat a small piece of lead in a spoon through a small flame and then drop it into cold water. They then use the shapes the metal forms in the water to interpret the future. This tradition is called lead casting. However, lead has recently been banned, so alternative materials are now used.

TV tradition

By definition, a tradition is something that happens again and again. A guarantee that it "happens again and again" on New Year's Eve in Germany is Dinner for one. The popular skit, which first aired on German television in 1963, has been repeated so often on New Year's Eve that it has become a tradition. The original is in English, but the humor is easy to understand. The story is about an aristocratic woman who celebrates her 90th birthday only in the presence of her butler, who, to fill the gap of the already deceased, takes on the role of the latter and gets hilariously drunk.

Food cooked on stones

Another tradition related to food is cooking on stones preheated on the stove or in the oven. The heated stone is placed on a table and guests are asked to cook various dishes on it. A typical stone cooking dish is raclette cheese with boiled potatoes and bread. Nowadays, of course, as an alternative, there are electric raclette machines and various other foods that are prepared on them.

And now, as always from us, a few tips and suggestions on how to celebrate the New Year outdoors:

Sit warm and enjoy the fireworks

Everyone likes to watch fireworks, but no one wants to be cold while doing so. While a warm cup of punch can warm you up a bit from the inside, you may need something more reliable and lasting.

Get yourself an early New Year's gift and enjoy the light-filled spectacle cozy on a warm outchair seat!

Take the heat with you when midnight rings

If you're hitting the streets at midnight to set off some firecrackers or join in the general noise pollution, the right clothes will definitely make you last longer outside. After a few glasses of champagne, it's easy to forget how cold it actually is 😉 Our new heated vest is specially designed to give you the freedom to move around without restrictions while keeping you warm at a comfortable, constant temperature.