What a wild ride 2025 was!

Rather than leaning into our exhaustion and staying home, Mark and I made ourselves venture out into the cold to experience New Years Eve in Germany. We hopped on a train to see friends in the nearby city of Mainz and then headed down to the Rhein River shore for the big countdown.

Surprisingly, the German government doesn’t have state sanctioned fireworks for new year’s! It is all up to the public to provide their own – and boy do they for the one day they are allowed to. After a late dinner at Heimat, one of the few restaurants with spaces left for our last-minute booking, we made our way to the river walk. Along the way, we witnessed multiple groups of people at random intersections lighting off loud Roman candles and other fireworks.

It was packed at the banks of the river. Brave souls in the crowd would rush out to light their rockets along the banks below the walkway and quickly rush back before the erupting lights could engulf them.  Fireworks were being continuously lit, and the air filled with smoke, making it a little hard to get our bearings. Some of the fireworks fell sideways and shot off into the crowds with loud sprays of spectacular color. We would duck our heads each time the bursts happened, hoping none would land on our heads or jackets.

As midnight neared, Mark started counting down from ten. I was disappointed that other people were not counting down to midnight with us, probably too focused on lighting their wicks and/or not catching on fire from the descending embers. Oh! An interesting tradition we learned that Germans do is that many people bring a bottle of champagne so they could toast with strangers. Thankfully our friends brought one for us to save face!

Now we know to bring champagne next year to share with the crowds and perhaps our own sparklers and Roman candles. Honestly, I would be too scared to do anything larger than that!

Other random German New Years Traditions:

• Berliner donuts. People buy a package of Berliner donuts filled with cream; however, one lucky person receives one filled with mustard. A mouthful of mustard gains you fortune for the year. I did see some at our local Tegut grocery store, but Mark didn’t want to play. He thinks the very idea of a mustard-filled donut is disgusting. I am leaning toward an agreement. I liken them to sugar encrusted corn dogs. Sorry South Korea, but not what I want in a corn dog.
• Watching the English comedy, “Dinner for One.” Maybe next year we will check it out.
• Fondue – something I still need to try!
• Fortunetelling. This involves the pouring hot lead into water and divining meaning from what shape the lead takes.

My goals for this year:

 – FINALLY pay off my grad school loans (ten long years I’ve had this albatross around my neck!)

– See more castles

– Keep up my Duolingo

– Positive mental health. When your chest gets tight and your jaw clenches, try putting an ice cube or a frozen bag of veggies on the back of your neck and forehead. It does amazing things to halt my spirals of panic and anxiety.

I am so hopeful about this year! Last year held profound joy, but also moments of incredible sadness and grief. I have a few craft projects to busy myself with, and I recently bought the old Baldur’s Gates games on Steam. I haven’t played them since I was about ten! Mark is now working on another Gundam submission to the world competition. He made it through the first round last year! We also have have a short trip lined up to go to the UK next weekend, which will be a nice little break from teaching.

I hope you and yours are doing well!

Wishing everyone a restful year ahead,

Steph ❤