Germany’s quirky New Year’s Eve traditions (designed by Stripes staff)
Germany celebrates New Year’s Eve with a passion. Here are three of the biggest traditions that you can join in on.
Fireworks
If you’ve been in Germany for New Year’s Eve, you will recall the frenzy of fireworks. In November, bundles of Silvesterraketen – New Year’s rockets – went on sale everywhere, from grocery shops to hardware stores. On the last day of December, at the stroke of midnight, your neighborhood exploded with noise and color, and it didn’t really taper off until the sun was up. This year, try walking to a rise in your village or a viewpoint nearby; the scene is beautiful. If you buy your own fireworks, be sure to only set them of during the legal window from Dec. 31 to Jan. 1 (midnight or afterward is the norm). Be sure you aren’t in restricted areas like churchyards or forests.
People with fireworks at New Years Eve (PopsaArts – stock.adobe.com)
Raclette
To occupy the evening leading up to midnight, many Germans will enjoy a party with friends or family at home. Large, organized events are becoming more popular, but enjoying drinks around an outdoor firepit, or having a long dinner is still the norm. Raclette is a very popular meal to have; it takes a long time and allows for socializing while grilling meats and vegetables and then melting cheese over your own special combination of ingredients. Special raclette grills and raclette cheeses appear in shops in November.
Raclette table set for New Year’s Eve . (CL-Medien – stock.adobe.com)
Melting cheese under the raclette grill. (CL-Medien – stock.adobe.com)
“Dinner for One”
While grilling raclette and imbibing a few drinks, many German families will sit down around 6 p.m. to watch an 18-minute short black-and-white film called “Dinner for One.” This British comedy was periodically performed on stage in the UK and in 1963, a famous German comedian named Peter Frakenfeld saw it. He asked the two-person cast to come perform the sketch live on his TV show in Hamburg. It was so well received, they recorded it to show on ARD (public broadcasting) channels periodically. In 1972, ARD played it on New Year’s Eve and has continued the tradition since then.
“Dinner for One” was recorded in English with British actors May Warden playing lady of the house Miss Sophie and Freddie Frinton as her butler James. The comedy plays out as James gets more and more drunk while standing in to toast for Miss Sophie’s long-dead birthday guests. The complete title in Germany is “Dinner for One oder: Der 90. Geburtsdat” (Dinner for One, or the 90th Birthday). You can join in the fun by watching on ARD 1, typically at 6 p.m. The channel is available for free on most smart TVs while in Germany.
“Dinner for One” starring May Warden and Freddie Frinton. ()
“Dinner for One” starring May Warden and Freddie Frinton. ()