New Year's Day

New Year's Day, known as **Neujahr** in Austria, is celebrated on **January 1st** and marks the beginning of the new year with great enthusiasm and tradition. It is a public holiday, allowing Austrians to spend time with family and friends, reflecting on the past year and welcoming the new one with hope and joy. The celebrations often begin on **New Year's Eve (Silvester)**, with lively parties, fireworks, and the famous **Pummerin bell** ringing at midnight from St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna. On New Year's Day, Austrians enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, often attending **New Year's concerts**, such as the renowned **Vienna Philharmonic's New Year's Concert**, which features classical music, particularly waltzes and polkas by the Strauss family. Traditional foods like **Glücksschwein (lucky pig)** and **marzipan pigs** are enjoyed as symbols of good fortune, while **Neujahrswein (New Year's wine)** is often shared. Many also take part in the custom of **Bleigießen (lead pouring)**, where molten lead is poured into water to predict the future based on the shapes formed. Overall, New Year's Day in Austria is a time of joy, reflection, and cultural traditions, blending modern festivities with deep-rooted customs.