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… is one of the most common phrases heard at midnight of the 31st
of December, the final day of the Gregorian year, signifying and celebrating
the transition from the old to the new year. We are so used to this date and
the way we celebrate it, that it hardly ever occurs to anyone of us, that it
might not always be celebrated on this day in other parts of the world, nor
in the way we are familiar with.
New Years Eve is a separate observance from the one of New
Year’s Day. In 20th century Western practice the celebration
involves partying until the moment of the transition of the year, generally
at local midnight. Drinking and toasting with sparkling wine is also a part
of this occasion.
Within many cultures the use of fireworks and other
noisemaking is a major part of the celebration in many places around the
world. In our German-Canadian community we celebrate at our clubs or with
friends, without fireworks, but with other, more sedate noisemakers.
In the United States New Year’s Eve is a major social
holiday. In the past 100 years the dropping of the ‘ball’ on top of One
Times Square in New York City, broadcast worldwide, is a important component
of this celebration.
In the UK they celebrate by either waiting for ‘Big Ben’ –
or another clock – to strike midnight while enjoying the party. Auld Lang
Syne and fireworks normally accompany the chimes. It is also a major
celebration in Scotland where it is called ‘Hogmanay’.
 This
occasion is also reason to make New Year’s resolutions, which people hope to
fulfill in the coming year, the most popular are stopping smoking or
drinking, or to loose weight and get physically fit.
In Toronto – and many other cities – it is the occasion of
the Mayors New Year Levee at City Hall in the afternoon of New Year’s Day.
 Our
team spent the night at the - sold out - Hansa Haus in Mississauga. About
450 people had elected to do the same, filling the festively decorated great
hall and the Hansa Stube – upstairs – to capacity. After the traditional
sayi ng
of ‘Grace’, the three course hearty dinner was served family style. Of
course there was the requisite red and white wine on every table to
accompany the meal. The service was speedy and well rehearsed. Our
complements to the staff!
Friends and Visitors
 Some
time during dinner Matt Lebar and his percussionist provided the background
music. The full band started to play a bit later and the guests were invited
to enjoy the dance floor. Most of them didn’t need much encouragement,
nearly everyone who could move was up and moving and the party atmosphere
never stopped.
 Many
of the guests were amazed at the band’s repertoire that included musical
memories from long, long ago, which is quite appropriate for us old-timers.
Dancing to the music
It is always wonderful to meet friends and
acquaintances that one so rarely meets and many memorable discussions took
place at the horseshoe-shaped bar in the Hansa Stube upstairs. In the
intimate atmosphere, with another small band for entertainment, many a glass
of champagne was bubbling before the appointed hour.
In the Hansa Stube Upstairs
 Quite
a few business people came to enjoy our European customs, including Crown’s
Joe Stritzl with his wife and an entourage of friends that included Jürgen
Sontag from Food Depot International and
 Toni
Baumann with their spouses. Ute and Juergen Schulz of International Furs
were spotted, as was a big contingent from Brandt’s
 Meat,
including Otto Rosenmeier and his wife.
At the Donauschwaben Klub in Scarborough the evening also
went well for about 260 guests with a wonderful dinner, two bottles of
champagne on every table plus the obligatory ‘goulash soup’ after midnight.
Lovely decorations helped to set a festive mood for this last day of 2005.
Peter Beck and the Mississauga Express kept the dance floor full of
celebrants in that location.
But let’s get back to the Hansa Haus, where it had
eventually it had gotten dangerously close to midnight. When the countdown
reached zero and the large net full of colourful balloons was released (see
front page), a cacophony of noise was accompanied by a frenzy of
congratulations, hugs and kisses and stomping on balloons all around. The
popping noise made it sound as if there was a firework nearby.
Happy New Year with Sybille
Hugs and Kisses
 When
there were no more balloons left, a cleaning crew of members of the board
swept up the debris on the dance floor, the music played on and the dancers
started dancing again, while the rest of us repaired to our tables to fill
up with a wonderful variety of open face sandwich snacks.
Of course there are many other New Year celebrations which
many other cultures celebrating in many different ways, too many to list
them all here, but one celebration always fascinated me – the Chinese New
Year, which is celebrated every year at a new moon during the winter. The
exact date can fall anytime between the 21st of January and the
21st of February inclusive, by the ‘Gregorian’ calendar.
Because the Chinese calendar is astronomically defined, the
drift of the seasons will change the range.
12 animals and one of five elements, with the combinations
of animals and element cycling every 60 years, symbolize each year. It is
generally celebrated with firecrackers and a parade.
The 12 animals are mouse, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake,
horse, sheep, monkey, rooster (2005), dog (2006) and boar. Me? I am a horse!
Happy New Year!
Dick Altermann
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This
occasion is also reason to make New Year’s resolutions, which people hope to
fulfill in the coming year, the most popular are stopping smoking or
drinking, or to loose weight and get physically fit.
Our
team spent the night at the - sold out - Hansa Haus in Mississauga. About
450 people had elected to do the same, filling the festively decorated great
hall and the Hansa Stube – upstairs – to capacity. After the traditional
sayi
ng
of ‘Grace’, the three course hearty dinner was served family style. Of
course there was the requisite red and white wine on every table to
accompany the meal. The service was speedy and well rehearsed. Our
complements to the staff!
Some
time during dinner Matt Lebar and his percussionist provided the background
music. The full band started to play a bit later and the guests were invited
to enjoy the dance floor. Most of them didn’t need much encouragement,
nearly everyone who could move was up and moving and the party atmosphere
never stopped.
Many
of the guests were amazed at the band’s repertoire that included musical
memories from long, long ago, which is quite appropriate for us old-timers.
acquaintances that one so rarely meets and many memorable discussions took
place at the horseshoe-shaped bar in the Hansa Stube upstairs. In the
intimate atmosphere, with another small band for entertainment, many a glass
of champagne was bubbling before the appointed hour.
Quite
a few business people came to enjoy our European customs, including Crown’s
Joe Stritzl with his wife and an entourage of friends that included Jürgen
Sontag from Food Depot International and
Toni
Baumann with their spouses. Ute and Juergen Schulz of International Furs
were spotted, as was a big contingent from Brandt’s
Meat,
including Otto Rosenmeier and his wife.
When
there were no more balloons left, a cleaning crew of members of the board
swept up the debris on the dance floor, the music played on and the dancers
started dancing again, while the rest of us repaired to our tables to fill
up with a wonderful variety of open face sandwich snacks.