Happy New Year!Sorry we missed you for Christmas - as with everyone else, this time of year kind of takes our breath (and time) away. So Merry (belated) Christmas: Fröhliche Weihnachten!
On New Year's Eve (Silvesterabend), we will practice the German tradition of Bleigießen (BLYE-ghee-sen). If you buy a Bleigießen kit (which we do), it includes pre-molded shapes of lead and a melting spoon. The practice is to melt the pieces of lead and drop the molten lead into a bowl of cold water. The resulting shape is your fortune for the upcoming year; different shapes mean different fortunes - here are a few examples:
Fish - luck; fortune
Flower - new friendship
Eyeglasses - wisdom
Heart - fall in love
Ladder - promotion; transition
Mouse - secret love
Snake - others are jealous of you
Ship, airplane, rocket - unexpected journey / trip
Yes, there are some bad fortunes, but I didn't include those. Truth be told - you can see whatever you want in your lump of lead! Make up something new...we do!
Hope your holidays have been special - filled with family, friends and memories. See you next year!
