New Year's Eve celebrations in Vienna are a little over the top.
There are no organized
fireworks-they are going off all over the city by individuals. We are told it is illegal, but the police seem to just turn their heads the other way on this day. We felt we needed to go downtown to "experience" this evening. We rode to the City Hall (Rathaus) area around 5:30 pm. When we got off the strassenbaum all we could see were wall to wall people. There were live performances and lots of dancing ( rock 'n' roll, disco and old-fashioned waltzes). The New Year's Trail was long and pointed the way from one attraction to the next.
Everything stops on the stroke of midnight as the 'Pummerin' bell in St. Stephen's Cathedral booms in the New Year. Toasts are made and gifts are presented in the form of lucky trinkets (pigs, ladybugs, etc.) that are carried around in purses and pockets all year long. There is also the tradition of fortune-telling with lead: a small piece of lead is heated over a flame and plunged into cold water. The shapes that form as a result are then interpreted. A rounded heart, for example, is a sure sign of winning everybody's heart in the coming year.
Following a visit with friends we went to Greg's office on the 13th floor of the UN building around 9:30. As we were watching out his window a guard came by and asked if we would like to go to the roof above the 28th floor. So, the guard, Greg, and I watched in amazement from the best view in town. If we closed our eyes we could imagine what it might be like in Baghdad. It was very eerie.
New Year's Eve in Vienna is a loud and merry time (a little too merry!) We were glad to be safe in our apartment before midnight, leaving the loud partying to others. Not much sleeping, though, as the fireworks continued until after 3:00 AM.
PIGS, PIGS, EVERYWHERE
My friend, Avis, who collects pigs would be in "hog heaven!"
Pig marzipan candies
Even pig hats
After
Happy New Year in Austria!
I like your blog you do have pigs avrewar love you aidyn
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