Germans will make a lot of preparations before the arrival of the new year to welcome the arrival of the new year. In German, the expression of New Year is "Neujahr" and New Year's Eve is "Sylvester". Sylvester was named in memory of a German saint named Sylvester. Saint Sylvester is regarded as the Pope recognized by members of the family of Jesus, and was baptized by the Roman emperor Constantine. Before that, there was a legend that Sylvester could cure the terrible leprosy.
In addition to the origin of the name "Sylvester", there are many interesting folk stories and traditional customs circulating in Germany.
There are many similarities between German New Year customs and China Spring Festival customs. Germany also has the custom of setting off fireworks on New Year's Eve, and the origin of the custom of setting off fireworks is similar. According to German folklore, on February 3rd, 654381day, ghosts and gods will come out to harm the human world. In order to drive away these ghosts and gods, the Germans will roll burning wooden wheels into the valley. In some areas, people will make noise with bells and flower pots, and hunters will shoot on this night.
Later, with the introduction of fireworks into Europe, the Germans replaced the above-mentioned complex exorcism activities with fireworks. Now, the New Year has become a day when German law allows fireworks to be set off. For Germans, the New Year without fireworks is simply unimaginable.
65438+February 3 1 is a very important day for Germans, who believe that the quality of this day is directly related to the fate of a year. On New Year's Eve, people use fireworks, lights and noise to exorcise evil spirits, bid farewell to the old and welcome in the new. But different regions in Germany have different holiday customs:
In the former border areas, people fired guns in the gardens at the dawn of the New Year so that fruit trees could bear fruit. On the other hand, people in the Alps announce the arrival of the New Year by waving whips. This custom is quite similar to the Germanic custom of exorcising evil spirits with sound. In northern Germany, on New Year's Day, children walk in the street with "ringing pots" and sing songs.
In some small villages in the black forest mountain area of Germany, there is a custom of holding New Year's Eve in the whole village. After the mass on New Year's Eve, the villagers happily started the New Year's Eve, holding lanterns and accompanying the church bells.
People sang carols all the way, thanking God for blessing the world. At this time, the priest and the village head or mayor will also deliver speeches one after another, wishing everyone a happy New Year. /kloc-at midnight in 0/2, the newlyweds rang the bell tower, and the sweet bell heralded the arrival of the new year.
In Baden, there is a unique way to sing New Year's songs: children ring the neighbor's doorbell and then recite short and widely circulated poems to express their wishes for the New Year. At the same time, the content of poetry is often a mystery.
Like the Spring Festival in China, Germans also have the custom of wearing new clothes to welcome the new year. They think it is best to wear new clothes in the new year. Dressing indiscriminately in the New Year is not a smooth year. Take a bath, put on new clothes and wish the New Year.
German New Year mascots include "auspicious pig", "fish scale" and "horseshoe". "Auspicious pig" is reminiscent of the totem wild boar among the Germanic gods. It is a symbol of holiness and good luck. "Fish scales" means making a fortune, and putting a few fish scales in your wallet indicates that the new year will be rich. In the New Year, people are also used to nailing horseshoes on the door, which is said to have the effect of exorcism.
Germany also has good luck and bad luck. Washing clothes and drying clothes on New Year's Eve is a big taboo. It is said that ghosts and gods will get entangled in the clothesline on New Year's Eve, which will bring bad luck. In addition, on New Year's Eve, "work" is also taboo, which is really welcome.
There is a week before and after the German New Year celebration. During this period, every household should put a fir tree and a horizontal tree, and the leaves are covered with silk flower, indicating that the flowers are in full bloom and the spring is full. Just before midnight New Year's Eve, the Germans climbed into the chair. As soon as the bell rang, they jumped up from their chairs and threw a heavy object behind the back of the chair to show that they had abandoned the disaster and entered the new year.
The children formed a band, put on new clothes and lined up to play in the street with harmonicas and accordions. The adults held colorful flags and shouted and sang behind them to celebrate the New Year.
In rural Germany, there is a custom to celebrate the New Year-"Tree Climbing Competition". Boys climb along bare trees, and the first place is called "New Year Hero" to show their promotion step by step.