It is 'der Jahreswechsel', The Change of the Year, and here's the 'latest' from German Culture at BellaOnline.


GERMAN NEW YEAR - http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art17911.asp


'Sylvester', Germany's New Years Eve, is a mixture of ancient and relatively modern traditions, much of which are based on customs that first began in the country's pagan past. All the New Year celebrations, from noise to fire, are designed to ensure that the year will have the best chance possible of becoming a vintage one.


And here are the instructions for one of the age old New Year traditions mentioned in the article:

BLEIGEISSEN -
http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art174525.asp

It is a quirky way of trying the tell the future, melting a heavy metal, dropping it into water and divining the future from the shape it makes. Originating in antiquity it remains a favourite amongst the German New Year traditions, and now many use an 'eco-friendly' version, and here are all the details.


I wish you 'einen guten Rutsch ins Neujahr' - a good slide into the New Year

and

PROSIT NEUJAHR - A Happy New Year

for 2012




Much more content covering all types of topics on germanculture.bellaonline.com, and a forum

http://forums.bellaonline.com/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=247

If you have any comments, questions or ideas for topics do let me know, either in the forum or via email.



Francine McKenna,
German Culture Editor
http://germanculture.bellaonline.com