silvester (new year’s eve) in deutschland 2013.
Despite some episodes of EXTREME jet lag, I was pretty excited to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2013 in Germany. I’ve done the pay a lot of money and get super dressed up for an open bar party a few times in the US, and while it’s plenty of fun, it’s nice to see how they do it in other parts of the world. I was here for New Year’s Eve, or Silvester as the Germans call it, last year in Germany. However, I spent it with the family. As much as I love those 6, I’m still in my 20s and it was not my ideal situation. Spoiler alert: yes, I am a 23-year-old that likes to play with fireworks, drink too much ‘champagne’, and stay out til the next day’s trams are running New Year’s Eve, so sue me.
In all honesty up until about 3 am the morning of NYE, we had no idea what we were going to do. Our kind friend had invited us to his hometown of Saarbrücken, but a little incident (ok, my wallet got stolen with all my cards, visa, and BahnCard) the night before changed things up. Luckily, I’d run into an old friend in the city who was back in town and he invited us to dinner with them. It was an incredible meal with some old, but more new, friends and a blast shooting fireworks.
Germans take their fireworks VERY seriously. In fact, you can shoot them within city limits. They had been going off all day, really, but at midnight, it exploded. If I had ever been in the height of battle back in the 1800s, I imagine this is how it would sound. It’s really just endless firing all around. Casey has an awesome post demonstrating the atmosphere; she is in Wiesbaden but it was very similar here.
At around 2, Maggie and I decided it was now an appropriate time to head out in the city. We were a little skeptical paying the 15 Euro entry fee until the bouncer assured us the club was open “indefinitely”. He wasn’t lying. I guess I thought taking pictures of this part of the night wasn’t a good idea (for once), but if I had, you probably wouldn’t be seeing them anyway because let’s get real, no photos of that time of night are blog worth appropriate.
All-and-all, I think it was a pretty traditional German (or at least Baden-Württemberg) NYE. Ok, so we didn’t eat raclette, but we had a great meal with friends, shot fireworks, and stayed up all night. And now, your photo overload:
The night started off with Maggie and I lost. This is not unusual. Luckily we had this tiny espresso truck to entertain us.
Maggie and I holding the lucky four leaf clover plant – apparently these are New Years-y here.
The guys whipped up an incredible meal baked salmon with broccoli, chicken curry, pan-fried potatoes, and rice.
Gotta hand it to these kids, only 2 had met me and 0 for Mags and they handled our ridiculous-ness spectacularly, heck, they even joined in. We had a very international New Years: Americans, Germans, Brazilians, and Indians – 4 continents ain’t bad.
Good thing we drank enough to have holsters for our bottle rockets.
Some of our fireworks!
Roman Candles are my favorite, even if they are tiny.
I <3 U ! fail.
How did you spend the new year?
Holy YUM that food looked delish!! And the whole getting your wallet stollen sounds awful. Crossing my fingers you get all your stuff back!! Seems like your NYE turned out fab without it! Thanks for the awesome shout out! You’re the best!
No YOU are the best. The food was awesome – real Indians making real curry… I could live off it.
So international and powerful NYE despite of jet lag
Your dinner looks yummy! I hope you will get at least your documents back 
Wow, it sounds like you had a great NY, even the whole getting lost part. xo, Maria
I didn’t have as much fun as you did. I was on my couch watching movies like a boss.
As long as it was like a boss, you’re set!
I have to say your new years beats mine. (Mine was spent kissing nyquil) but I love the bottle rockets and that tiny euro car.
Hey, Nyquil can be a pretty good buddy, too.
NYE in Germany sounds amazing!
The salmon meal looks delicious! =)
xo,
nancy
It looks really nice with all of the food and twinkles. Andi missed the fireworks over in England. His friends take it really seriously. One spent like 800 euros on getting some giant ones in from Prague. Awesome, hey! Happy New Year my lovely xxx
800 Euros?! Holy moly. That is some kind of extreme firework-ing. Happy NY Rosie!
If salmon were on my menu daily, I’d be a happy camper. The happiest camper.
This looks like a great time…especially the fireworks! I love your sweater too.
Thanks! Have you heard of 6pm.com? It’s MK and I got it on there for 80% off!
So excited to experience holidays the German way!! Looks like fun
You’re in for something special!
Ha, that looks like a proper German NY-night out
Sometimes I am a little ashamed of my fellow country men and their relation to extensive fireworks.. I do not mind shooting some beautiful rackets into the sky that very day, but I get annoyed by those Chinaboeller stuff, you know those which leave all the red rubbish behind and by the average amount spent,,,, Anyways — I am glad you had a brill night out, your pictures are – as usual -superb!
I spent NYE indoors comforting my puppy Josie… Along with nice Raclette, games and champagne… Next year I guess I am in again for some fancy dress and bubbles somewhere cool
Love
Svenja
xx
haha but fireworks are so fun – no shame! But ya they really do make a mess, but it seemed like the city was cleaned up fairly well by the 2nd. You definitely went traditional with the raclette, sounds like a nice evening Svenja!
Those little tiny trucks crack me up. I see them all the time in town here; they’re used for small maintenance crews (no pun intended) by the city.
To bad you did not make it to Saarbrücken. Not that the city is very exciting but I lived there for a couple of years too!
Glad you had a great Silvester!
Oh no way! It looked like it would’ve been a nice quick trip from Google
Sparklers and Champagne make every NYE that extra bit better
I’ve never actually spent New Year in Germany! I did spend it in Vienna once though and hated all the fireworks. I love them in the sky, but there people were just throwing them all over the street, pointing them at buildings, which they then rebounded off in my direction. At midnight, I was hiding behind a Glühwein stand where the fireworks couldn’t get me.
Love your pictures. That salmon looks AMAZING!!
We did have a firework misdirect and come flying at us – it happened so fast no one even had time to jump or react, which turned out ok thank goodness. Maybe you’ll spend one in GErmany next year
but I bet it’s nice to get away!