We Germans have lots of traditions pertaining to New Year's Eve (which over here is called Silvester) and the beginning of each new year. Just from the top of my head: Of course, there is food, in many families traditionally Fondue, there's the firecrackers, and there's drinking in moderation, of course! And then there's the weirder traditions, like watching the same, English-language (!) skit every year.

Then there's the traditional New Years Walk, which many people take on January 1st, to get the alcohol-laden cobwebs blown out of their heads and enjoy the winter landscape.

And, finally, there's casting lead. Not not this one. This is about molybdomancy, the reading of one's future through the interpretation of little pieces of lead (or their shadows), first molten, then dropped into water, by means of pareidolia. Every New Year's Eve party features this, and complete sets, consisting of a spoon and six pieces of lead (often shaped into "lucky" objects like horseshoes, coins, pigs, etc) can be bought almost everywhere in the days leading up to the new year for just under 2€ (Children are likely to use some less hot and toxic wax).

Now, I know that most of those doing molybdomancy are just doing it for the laughs. But this year it got me wondering: How many of the people making jokes about how their dropped bit of lead looks like a sperm, so they'd be bound to get pregnant this year, or how many of those thinking they can identify a shovel and make jokes about how someone's going to die in 2010 are secretly worried about exactly this - if even just a little bit? So, when does a "harmless" joke turn into something strange, and outright scary?

This seems to be a similar problem with Ouija boards or seancés - for some it may start as innocent fun, but quickly envelop and overwhelm them.

So, what do the readers think? Harmless or dangerous? And are there similar New Year's Eve traditions you know of? I'm interested!

Oh, and btw: Happy New Year to you all, success and health in 2010!