!!!Neujahr

New Year's Day, 1 January, beginning of the year, one of the twelve 
nights of Christmas (Christmastide) (  Rauhnaechte) and forms one 
holiday together with the preceding New Year´s Eve (  
Silvester). Starting dates such as New Year were considered to be 
oracular and critical days (  Lostage), and thought to be predictive 
of the furture. Several traditions are typical of New Year, such as 
the Neujahrsblasen (trumpets are blown from towers) or the ringing of 
St. Stephen´s Cathedral´s bell (  Pummerin) at 
midnight. Its sound, which is followed by the playing of the  Blue 
Danube Waltz, is broadcast via TV and radio. New Year´s 
postcards are sent and in rural areas New Year´s wishes are sung 
in the so-called Neujahrssingen ("New Year´s Singing"), 
good-luck charms (marzipan piglets, four-leafed clover, etc.) are 
given to neighbours and friends. In towns, people often give money to 
public service workers such as the refuse collectors, postmen and 
chimney sweeps (a relic from the 19th century, when New Year gifts 
were common practice). - The New Year´s Concert, which has been 
performed by the  Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra since 1939 
(1%%sup st/%  concert on December 31, 1939, since 1941 on New 
Year´s Day), is broadcast virtually all around the world. Some 
other towns in Austria also celebrate New Year with similar concerts.

!Literature
H. M. Wolf, Das Brauch-Buch, 1992.


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