Also see: Silvester und das neue Jahr

 
NEW YEAR’S CUSTOMS - BLEIGIESSEN

Silvester • New Year’s Eve

A New Year’s Tradition in the German-Speaking Countries

Bleigießen: Predicting the future

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In Germany, Austria and Switzerland you can buy lead-pouring kits that contain small lead/zinc figures and a wood-handled spoon for melting them down. Using a candle, each person holds the spoon over the heat to melt down a small amount of lead and then pours it into a container of water to produce a "frozen" shape. Each shape is interpreted to predict that person's fate for the coming year. Of course, the interpretation of the leaden shape can be open to debate. But (as in video 1) if you don't like the shape, you can always try another one.

Enjoy these 4 videos of Bleigießen to learn more:

 
1. arte - From TV, with several examples (in German, 2:57)

 
2. auf Deutsch - zu Hause (2:34)

 
3. with English captions (1:58)

 
4. Badesalz - TV humor (in German, 1:36)

 
BACK > German and Austrian New Year's Customs

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