We've gone into detail about the German phrase of "sliding" (rutschen) into the New Year in a lesson last year, so let's instead take a quick peek at two new videos that Yabla is releasing in celebration of Silvester — and I don't mean "Sylvester and Tweetie!"

BANNER PLACEHOLDER

Was machen wir eigentlich an Silvester?

What are we actually doing on New Year's Eve?

Caption 2, Im Zoo - Der Jahreswechsel für die Tiere

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A major part of New Year celebrations in many countries is the shooting off of fireworks and firecrackers. Der Böller is a firecracker, and "to set off a firecracker" is the verb böllern. If we turn this verb into a noun or nominalize it, it becomes das Böllern: 
 

Fester Bestandteil:

An integral part:

meist das Anstoßen auf das neue Jahr und das Böllern.

usually the toast to the new year and the setting off of firecrackers.

Caption 4, Im Zoo - Der Jahreswechsel für die Tiere

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And of course parties are a key part of the celebration: 
 

Der Neujahrsempfang ist aber auch die ideale Plattform,

The New Year's reception is indeed also the ideal platform

um gute Neuigkeiten bekannt zu machen.

for announcing some good news.

Captions 3-4, Rhein-Main-TV - FSV-Neujahrsempfang

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But the New Year's reception is also the ideal platform to announce good news

You may also see it described as die Silvesterparty or das Neujahrsfest. Either way, have fun — but not so much that you'll regret it the next day! 

BANNER PLACEHOLDER

Further Learning
Visit Yabla German to find more examples of typical New Year's terms like das Anstoßen and das Feuerwerk.