This year we went to the Stephensons' home to bring in the New Year. Here in Germany they call it Sylvester. A little history is called for now. The largest firework display in Germany for this holiday is held in Berlin at the Brandenberg Gate. It is the feast day for Saint Sylvester, a Pope who died in Rome on 31 December. The entire day Germans greet each other with EINEN GUTEN RUTSCH. Rutsch is Yiddish meaning beginning. As the boundaries between spirit and the real world were weakening, the fireworks and loud noises were used to drive away the evil spirits. The Europeans adopted this holiday in the 1700's but before, it was considered a pagan Germanic celebration.
We watched a short (very old play) on the TV called "Dinner For One". This is played in every home as entertainment before the family dinner. We thought it was hilarious but probably only to the adults. Then we had a delicious dinner of three kinds of soup. Brocolli cheese, Taco and Navy bean and ham. Along with that we had deviled eggs, fresh veggies and home made rolls. For desert we had fudge and all kinds of Christmas breads.
After dinner the girls worked on a puzzle of the Neuschwanstein Castle while the men talked bout their youthful antics. The fireworks started at midnight and we are thankful we were in this safe little house, because, anyone can buy any size of fireworks and explode them anywhere they want to with no restirctions. You are taking your life in your hands if you are driving from 12:00 midnight to 1:00 AM hours. We left and on the way home we had fireworks exploding onto our car. The streets were filled with the expended paper from all the explosions. If you were in Frankfurt you really had a party. Beer, wine, bells and a major fireworks display. It was too cold to be out there at night, but everyone else probably was. Well Happy New Year or Sylvester. See you all in 2 months.
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