Pinterest

German Traditions on New Year's Eve with Recipes

Oma Gerhild

by: Gerhild Fulson  /  Cookbook Author, Blogger, German Oma!

New Year's Eve recipes, aka Silvester or Silvesterabend, in Germany are based on some of the most traditional foods served throughout the year. But it's the combination that makes these foods so special.

For example, pork.

The pig has long been thought to bring good luck. That makes it a great symbol for New Year's. So, almost any food that includes pork is included in the party celebration and that includes the famous marzipan pig!

Happy New Year!

Foods such as pork sausages, Kassler, schnitzel . . . and for those who don't like meat, yes, there's the little pig made out of marzipan that you can buy at any German deli. A great New Year's Eve decoration!

An especially sought-after specialty to include among your New Year's Eve party ideas is to serve seafood, particularly carp. Trout, crab, lobster, salmon, and oysters are other possibilities.

When it's time for dinner, get traditional with Oma's favorite combinations. Get her collection in Oma's German Dinners, which include salads, soups, entrees, and desserts!

Oma's German Dinners eCookbook

Take a peek at all Oma's eCookbooks. They make sharing your German heritage a delicious adventure!

What do these have to do with this celebration? No one really knows, except that it may have to do with an attempt to eat less fattening foods right after Christmas. 

One unusual addition, also so German, is to serve sauerkraut.

This is one of those "good-luck" foods.

The hope is that you'll have as much money as there are cabbage shreds in the pot. (Serve a LARGE pot!)

Want more money?

Then keep some of those fish scales from the carp and put one in your wallet.

It needs to stay there all year! Hide some others around the house. 


Include lentil soup on the menu for more good luck. That will bring many coins into your pockets. Other soups are also included to bring a sense of well-being: soups such as carrot, green bean, and peas are most common.

When the clock strikes 12, start to serve the Mitternachtssuppe (midnight soup), also known as Goulash Soup. Yes, this very traditional German soup, that tastes great throughout the year, often finds itself as the first soup of the year. Mahlzeit! 

German New Year's Eve Superstitions

Superstitions abound around the foods and good luck. Whether it be the pig, the carp, the lentils, or the sauerkraut, the end result is that whatever you use for your New Year's Eve party, ideas to include these superstitions makes for a fun time.

New German Traditions for New Year's Eve

More enjoyable is a newer tradition of making raclette, a type of cheese fondue. You'll need a special raclette grill that melts cheese that is served with vegetables and bread. 

Other fondues are also enjoyed, whether used as party appetizers or buffets. The most popular are meat, vegetable, and, a personal favorite, chocolate fondue.

Party dessert recipes must include pretzels. Store-bought is good. Home-made is better :) Of course, other party appetizers and desserts are included as well. A charcuterie board covered with German cold cuts, German cheeses, German pickles ... anything German ... is a treat.

Oma says,

Can you visualize a game counting lentils? or sauerkraut? or fish scales?

What a great game to play for your New Year's Eve party!

You can always start your own traditions . . . just have fun. 

Don't eat this for New Year's Eve!

What's not eaten for New Year's Eve is chicken or turkey.

Why?

One doesn't want all that good luck brought by the pig to fly away! Except, of course, for the New Year's goose that's eaten in the Rhineland area. 


Traditional New Year's Eve Recipes

Prosit Neujahr!  (May the New Year turn out well.)

and

Einen guten Rutsch ins neue Jahr! (a good slide into the new year!)

You might like these

Follow Oma on Social Media:

Buy me a coffee?

Leave a comment about this recipe or ask a question?

Pop right over to my private Facebook group, the Kaffeeklatschers. You'll find thousands of German foodies, all eager to help and to talk about all things German, especially these yummy foods. 

Meet with us around Oma's table, pull up a chair, grab a coffee and a piece of Apfelstrudel, and enjoy the visit.

Newest Recipes

  1. The Best Jagerschnitzel Sauce: Oma's Mushroom Gravy for Jägerschnitzel

    jaegerschnitzel-plated-web.jpg
    Jagerschnitzel: Rich creamy bacon & mushroom gravy over crispy breaded pork schnitzel (cutlets). HEAVENLY! A traditional German meal that's PERFECT anytime.

    Go to Recipe

  2. How to Make German Schnitzel Recipe: Oma's Classic Schweineschnitzel

    German schnitzel with asparagus 600 2020
    Discover the ultimate German schnitzel recipe with Oma's quick and easy method - perfect for any occasion! Taste the authentic flavors of Germany today.

    Go to Recipe

  3. Oma’s Favorite Finds: German-inspired items for cooking & entertaining

    Gerhild Fulson shopping
    Oma's Favorite Finds offer a range of Oma’s favorite German-inspired must-have items that make cooking and entertaining more enjoyable, yummy, and efficient.

    Go to Recipe

*  *  *  *  *

Make every day a day of CELEBRATION!

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

1 Corinthians 10:31

Copyright © | Quick German Recipes (Just like Oma) | All Rights Reserved

Powered by: Make Your Knowledge Sell!

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: Quick German Recipes participates in various affiliate advertising to provide a means to earn advertising fees by linking to retail websites. This website is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. I will not promote products I do not own or would not buy myself. My goal is to provide you with product information and my own personal opinions or ideas.  At times, I will showcase services, programs, and products. I aim to highlight ones that you might find interesting, and if you buy future items from those companies, I may get a small share of the revenue from the sale. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.
YOU SHOULD ALWAYS PERFORM DUE DILIGENCE BEFORE BUYING GOODS OR SERVICES ONLINE.


Quick-German-recipes.com does not sell any personal information

copyscape image