Mein erster Jahreswechsel vor einigen Jahren war hier etwas enttaeuschend. Bis dahin dachte ich, Silvester wird aehnlich gefeiert. Es fing schon mal an mit der Annahme, dass Silvester eine gaengige Bezeichnung fuer diesen Tag waere. Immerhin handelt es sich dabei um einen Vornamen. Aber nein, niemand weiss hier was Deutschsprachige unter Silvester meinen. Man bezieht sich hier auf den Abend des Neuen Jahres und nennt es daher "New Year's Eve" - quasi Neujahrsabend. Zumindest wo ich aufgewachsen bin, einem kleinen Dorf vo ca. 2000 Einwohnern, gab es immer ein wunderschoenes Feuerwerk zu bewundern. Feuerwerk und Silvester gehoeren daher fuer mich einfach zusammen , obwohl ich die Knaller aber nicht brauche. Nicht hier. Ich war ganz erstaunt, wie ruhig es hier ist. Feuerwerke sind hauptsaechlich fuer den 4. Juli bestimmt. Es kann sein, dass manche Staedte oder Organisationen ein Feuerwerk zu Silvester haben. Aber es ist nicht ueblich oder wahrscheinlich gar nicht moeglich, als Privatperson Feuerwerkskoerper zu besorgen. Soweit ich weiss haben die verschiedenen Staaten diesbezueglich eigene Gesetze. Was macht man also hier wenn es kein Feuerwerk zu bestaunen gibt? Man sieht sich den Fall der Kugel in New York an, was der Hoehepunkt fuer die Feiern hier ist. Was aber nun aehnlich ist, sind die diversen TV-Programme, die alle einen Rueckblick aufs vergangene Jahr zeigen oder eben auch besondere Unterhaltungsprogramme fuer diesen letzten Abend des Jahres.
In Oesterreich gibt's eine ganze Menge bestimmter Silvestertraditionen: man schenkt sich gern Gluecksbringer in allen moeglichen Formen (Schwein, Rauchfangkehrer, Kleeblatt, etc). Oft versucht man sich im Bleigiessen um zu sehen, was das Neue Jahr mit sich bringen kann. Seit vielen Jahren gibt es in groesseren Staedten Silvesterpfade - ein Pfad wo man sich von Stand zu Stand durchkosten kann. Ich weiss von keinen besonderen Silvestertraditionen ausser Parties hier. Gibt es etwas typisches?
My first New Year's Eve here a few years ago was rather disappointing. Until then I thought that this evening is celebrated similar. It already starts with the assumption that I thought the German name "Silvester" is used in many countries. After all it's a first name. No, most people in the US don't know what Germanspeakers mean with Silvester. There is no special name for the last day of the year here, just New Year's Eve.
Even though I grew up in a very small village (2000 inh.) there was always I beautiful firework. Fireworks and New Year's Eve just belong together for me, although I find firecrackers very annoying. Not here though. I was really suprised how quiet it is here. Fireworks are used mainly for July 4th. I have heard of some cities or organisations having a firework for New Year's Eve. It's probably not possible for private people. As far as I know different states have different laws for that anyway, which might make it impossible to buy some in the first place. So what are you doing here if there are no fireworks? You watch the ball in NY drop, which seems to be the highlight of the evening for most people.
Very similar are the TV-programs, which all look back at the old year or show a special entertainment program for the evening.
In Austria there are all kind of different customs for that night. Many people give each other good-luck symbols like pigs, chimney sweeper, shamrock, etc. Many like to pour led and make predictions for the New Year. For a few years now many big cities have a so-called "New Year's path", a path through the city-center where you can eat and drink form one booth to the next.
I don't know of any special New Year's customs here, besides having a party. Are there any?
Monday, December 31, 2007
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5 comments:
One custom from Pennsylvania and Ohio--even if you're not Pennsylvania Dutch as is the origen--is to cook Pork and Sauerkraut, like this: http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Slow-Cooker-Lancaster-County-Pork-and-Sauerkraut/Detail.aspx
Many people will start the cooking on New Year's Eve before going to bed, so that it cooks overnight. It is supposed to be the first meal you eat on the New Year, for good luck.
As expected from children who didn't eat sauerkraut the other 364 days of the year, we avoided the sauerkraut. ;-)
Can't think of any great traditions for New Year's Eve, kind of sad, really. We'll be home watching a movie.
Here's a couple traditions from Red Isn't Dead blog:
There are two rituals related to the new year that I practice every year:
Wear red underwear on New Years Day...the idea is that this welcomes love into your life in the new year. Its a conscious, physical reminder for us to focus on bringing love into our lives. If the clothes that you put on on any given day have a very specific intention behind them...you will be more likely to focus on that intention throughout the day.
Before you cross the threshold of your front door, entering your home for the FIRST time after midnight on NYE...throw a fistful of spare change across the entry first. This invites prosperity into your life for the new year. You are also laying physical representation of prosperity in your path so that you may walk in abundance and prosperity for the new year. *Note...if you live in an apt...throw the change across the threshold of your own unit...not the front door of your building...I suppose you could do both if you want to bless the whold building with prosperity and abundance as well as your own home.
Growing up in the middle of nowhere, the only things I knew of were watching the ball drop or going to a party where everyone drinks champagne, sings "Auld Land Syne", and kisses at midnight. In Boston we had fireworks at midnight and I liked them much more than the 4th of July fireworks because they were shot off over the harbor - very convenient since we lived right next to it!
There do seem to be more little traditions here which I think are great. Right now Heidelberg has disappeared under a cloud of smoke from all the fireworks...(it reminded me of this blog post so I came to comment after coming back inside and finishing my champagne! :) )
Heather: I should have know that since my husband's family is from the Pittsburgh area. I still avoid sauerkraut:)
Victoria: What more can you want than love and money?;)
C N Heidelberg: Fireworks close to a harbor sound great. I have heard that Baltimore has those too.
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