Bringing in the New Year in Germany
There is plenty of dancing going on in Germany. Glee-wine, a sort of negus and puneh, is brought in after supper and just before twelve o’clock. Every one is on the watch to win the New Year from the others – that is, to announce the New Year first. Accordingly, the instant the city bell is heard to commence tolling, ‘Prosst Neu Jahr!’ starts from every one’s lips; and happy is he who is acknowledged to have made the exclamation first, and to have won from all the others the New Year. In every house at that moment, all over the country is shouted ‘Prosst Neu Jahr!’ prose being no German word, but a contraction of the Latin prosit. On one occasion, having retired to rest, our servants assembled at our room door and woke us in order to cry ‘Prosst Neu Jahr!’ On the following morning, every one that meets you salutes you with the same exclamation. With the glee-wine are brought in, on a waiter, the New Year wishes of the family and its friends. These are written in verse, generally on very ornamented gilt notepaper and sealed up. When the Prosst Neu Jahr has passed and all have drunk to one another a happy New Year, with a general touching of glasses, these are opened and read. For the most part they are without signatures and occasion much guessing and joking. Under cover of these anonymous epistles, good hints and advice are often administered by parents and friends. Numbers of people who never on any other occasion write a verse, now try their hands at one; and those who do not find themselves sufficiently inspired, present those ornamental cards of which I have spoken under Christmas, and which have all kinds of wishes, to suit all kinds of taste and circumstances. These are to be purchases of all qualities and prices; and those sent by friends and lovers generally appear on New Year’s Day, and are signed or not, as suits the purpose of the sender. William Howitt’s Rural and Domestic Life of Germany.
Printed in The Chamber’s Journal, vol 11-12, 1849, p. 64.
Katie Barclay wishes everyone a Happy New Year and best wishes for 2012. She is a historian at the University of Adelaide.
