New years traditions in Germany http://www.photocase.de/stock-fotos/51776-stock-photo-blau-schwarz-party-rosa-silvester-neujahr-violett.jpg h3.ggpht.com/-lgSw6N3N3Oc/SV8fIFZrUMI/AAAAAAAAIKk/2KwH7n65tAM/200901Neujahr_m1.jpg

31th December is New Year‘s Eve

On New Year’s Eve people go to parties. At midnight there are big fireworks all over the country. On New Year’s Day people wish each other a “Happy New Year”.

At midnight people clink glasses usually filled with sparkling wine and wish each other a „Happy New Year“. http://www.thotel.it/media/3/40626837503025/capodanno_2.png

Fireworks at midnight. http://www.heret.de/webcam/fotos/Neujahr.jpg

If you go to a party the room is decorated with balloons and festoons and it‘s tradition to throw confetti. http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/ratownikxl/ratownikxl0911/ratownikxl091100057/5958613-silvester-party.jpg

People bring small gifts like a flowerpot with lucky clover, little sculptures of pigs or chimney sweepers (often out of chocolate or marzipan) as symbols of luck. http://www.hd-gbpics.de/gbbilder/gluecksbringer/gluec ksklee- http://static1.kleinezeitung.at/system/galleries_520x335/upload/6/6/0/2252208/gluec

Other lucky charms are horseshoes toadstools http://ratgeber.t-online.de/b/52/18/91/46/id_52189146/tid_da/gluecksbringer-zu- http://www.knuddelwichtel.de/images/categories/ and ladybirds http://www.pintoras-shop.de/WebRoot/Store13/Shops/61321671

Another tradition is to pour liquid plomb into water to see what shape it assumes when it cools. This shape gives hints about the things that will happen during the new year. http://www.bayern-blogger.de/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/11 /Bleigie%C3%9Fen.jpg

A very special New Year’s celebration takes place in Berlin at Brandenburg Gate a famous place in the heart of the city. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HyhjKzGyqA4/UKVwb61RzMI/AAAAAAAAABU/ITHk91Rw_Oc/s1600/Neujahr.jpg

Thousands of people from all over Germany and the world come together here to welcome the new year. Famous bands play there. It’s always a great atmosphere. http://www.haz.de/var/storage/images/haz/hannover/aus-der-stadt/uebersicht/tipps-und-termine-zu-silvester-und-neujahr/16747442-1-ger-DE/Tipps-und-Termine-zu-Silvester-und-Neujahr_ArtikelQuer.jpg

„Prosit Neujahr“ or a „Good and healthy new year“. On 1st of January pepole sleep long. They wish other people in the streets „Prosit Neujahr“ or a „Good and healthy new year“. People often eat fish, especially carp and put a flake of the fish in their purse, because that means you will have money in the new year. http://rabensol.de/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Karpfen-blau.jpg

Another traditional New Year‘s dish is lentil soup. People say each lentil is a coin in your purse. http://www.rezeptewiki.org/images/thumb/c/c0/Linsensuppe.jpg/300px-Linsensuppe.jpg

A happy and peaceful New Year to all of you. http://www.wallpaper-gratis.eu/feiertage/neujahr/2012-frohes-neues-jahr011_1024x768.jpg A happy and peaceful New Year to all of you.

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This publication reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.