Celebrating Silvester in German

Vocabulary

Dec 20

After Christmas is over, the old year slowly comes to an end. People get ready to celebrate Silvester and welcome the new year. After reading this article, you will know all the relevant words you need for your celebration!

Celebrate Silvester in German

There are several common phrases that Germans usually use when Silvester. In the following, you will get to know the most important ones.

Einen guten Rutsch

In Germany, people start wishing each other “einen guten Rutsch” starting around Christmas time. With this blessing, people wish each other an easy and pleasant start to the new year. One can use this phrase until the new year begins.

Zwischen den Jahren

In German, the time between Christmas and Silvester is also called “zwischen den Jahren“. This literally means “between the years”.

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Der Jahreswechsel

When “der Jahreswechsel” (turn of the year) comes closer, many people start to plan what they are going to do and whom they are going to meet on the 1st of December, which is called “Silvester”. On this day, many people start the evening with their friends, eating and drinking together at somebody’s home or in a bar.

Frohes neues Jahr!

Whatever the people decide to do for Silvester, almost everybody is counting down the last 5 seconds of the old year. When the clock shows midnight, people hug each other and start wishing everybody “ein frohes neues Jahr” (a happy new year). Now, the time has come to take out the “Sekt” (sparkled wine) and cheer (anstoßen), which all of the people to celebrate the new year.

Of course, there is another thing that should not be missing: “das Feuerwerk” (fireworks) and the “Böller” (firecrackers).

After all of the blessings, wishings, drinks, and firecrackers, many people continue to celebrate until the morning as the “Neujahr” (new year’s day) is a national holiday. Therefore, almost nobody needs to work.