Miniature marzipan pigs are given as gifts at New Years in Germany, to bring good luck in the year ahead. I am not sure why pigs are associated with luck here, but one theory is that in days gone by, if you had a pig to feed your family with, you were fortunate… But then who knows?
I do however want to know if my Glücksschwein was so lucky, why it didn’t cure me of my terrible headache procured the evening before, and I also want to know why some of them wear very fetching hats??
We saw in the New Year in our local Gasthof, where our initial shy nods and greetings with our fellow revellers were soon turned into hearty Prosts all round! Never trust a Bavarian offering you innocent looking little glasses of clear liquid with pretty Bavarian flags in them, as this is how you will get a headache (and the thing you think is a pickled onion is a melon hopefully!)… A good night was had by all though, and we said goodbye to 2011 with lots of laughter, a table cloth nearly in flames, fireworks and new local friends. Whether I will recognise them in the cold light of day is yet to be discovered, but they are a friendly bunch and they know how to welcome a New Year properly!!
At the end of the evening The Small People were asked whether they would like to take part in a new years custom of melting metal shapes on spoons, and tipping the molten liquid (supervised of course) into a bowl of water. The solidified mass is then inspected and the shape is said to reveal your coming fortune for the year. We couldn’t make head nor tail out of one shape, but the other shape kind of resembled a boat (well at the time it really resembled a boat!), which apparently predicts a lot of travel for the year ahead, which is fine by me!
So, goodbye 2011, you were hectic, frantic and at times downright stressful, and there were plenty of t0ugh decisions and sad goodbyes along the way. But happily there was also plenty of laughter, and many adventures to be enjoyed – not to mention huge new doors opening left right and centre. Let’s see what you bring shall we? Happy New Year everyone…
Never heard of either of those traditions before. My German teacher (who is Austrian) gives us some ‘wallet/purse/handbag’ charms each new year. There are things like horseshoes and chimney sweeps which are all supposed to bring good luck.
Aha, now I know you have superior German knowledge to me I will keep asking you questions!! :) Yes, apparently they are the patron saint of the family, and are put in the house to bring good luck for the year! Emma :)
Dear Emma,
Sorry for the long absence in blog-sphere land.
Congratulations on both moves. The blog looks great and I look forward to reading more about your new home.
Hope you had a good Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Take care.
x
Thanks Alexandra! Lovely to hear from you! Hope all is well, and have a very Happy 2012! Emma :) x
Yum my mum loves Marzipan so much, I better not tell her or she will be shipping herself off to Germany! x
Plenty of it here, thankfully I like it! Thanks for the comment! Emma :) x
Interesting post, some cool traditions and marzipan…yum! Really great post. Happy New Year x
Thanks Mama! Hope you all had fun! Your Marzipan post looked delicious the other day by the way! Emma :) xx
Happy New Year! Sounds like you had a great time. Germany sounds like a lot of fun at NY. xx
Thanks Emma… Have only just about recovered! :) xx
Happy New Year!
Sounds like some really interesting traditions!
Thank you! And to you too! I am sure there are so many traditions in France as well, I am fascinated by them :)
LOL Are you supposed to eat them? I don’t think I could – they look like so much work has gone into them!
You are supposed to eat them, but I actually kept mine… (I ate my marzipan hating son’s instead, once he had bitten it’s head off!)… :)
ahhhh the old pig in a hat routine…I believe it was a cunning ruse set up only to confuse the heck out of you…I’m not entirely sure you’ll see them again next year unless another new family moves in and then you’ll be in on the joke LOL
Knowing my luck, you are probably completely right! :D
what a lovely post emma, with pigs in hats, and melted metal that turn into boats! a year full of travel – that would certainly have made my evening :)
Thanks Pia… It was an evening to remember that’s for sure! Happy New Year :)
Now see, if you hadn’t moved to Germany I’d never have heard about these little lucky pigs. That don’t cure ‘headaches’! Sounds like a fab night and a great way to make new friends ;-)
Happy New Year Emma, hope 2012 is good to you ;-)
xx Jazzy
Thanks Jazzy! Happy Happy 2012, I hope it’s really good to you! Emma :) xx
I think this is just about the most delicious blog on my blog list :).
Thank you Midlife SingleMum…. It could he why I am so fat as well! :)