"Prost Neujahr!" How Germany rings in the New Year with beer
meta description Are you familiar with the German New Year's greeting "Prost Neujahr!"? Discover unique German New Year's traditions like lucky pigs, fried donuts, and rollmops for hangovers. Celebrate a delicious New Year with authentic German beer at Schmatz.
Table of Contents
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"Prost Neujahr!": Germany's New Year's Greeting
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Japan has "Tai" (sea bream), Germany has "Pigs"? "Glücksschwein" for good luck
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"To be lucky" in German = "to have a pig"?
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Schmatz Style! Boost Your Luck with Delicious Pork and German Beer
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Sweet or Spicy? German-style Russian Roulette: "Berliner Pfannkuchen"
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The Secret Behind Fried Doughnuts Indispensable on New Year's Eve
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The morning after drinking too much? "Fish" to freshen up! Traditional "Rollmops"
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"Hangover Breakfast" Unique to a Beer-Loving Nation
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Schmatz's "Rollmops" uses Kohada (Gizzard Shad)
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Experience "Authentic German Flavors" and "Sounds of Happiness" at Schmatz
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Kick off the New Year with a Schmatz German Beer!
Has everyone adjusted from New Year's mode yet?
In Japan, the traditional way to spend the New Year's holiday involves listening to the New Year's Eve bell, eating toshikoshi soba, and reverently enjoying osechi ryori.
On the other hand, the New Year in Germany, a beer-loving nation, is a bit more lively and energetic. Fireworks light up the streets, and Germans toast lavishly with Sekt (sparkling wine) and beer.
This time, we will introduce unique German ways of celebrating the New Year. The keyword is "Prost Neujahr!" which means "Cheers to the New Year!" in German. Why not incorporate German culture into your New Year's start this year for a delicious and fun beginning?
"Prost Neujahr!": Germany's New Year's Greeting
In Germany, New Year's Eve is called "Silvester." It's common to gather with friends at home or in public squares for parties, launching fireworks at the countdown. And the moment the clock strikes midnight, the greeting exchanged while raising glasses is "Prost Neujahr!"
"Prost" is the everyday "Cheers," and "Neujahr" is "New Year." It's a New Year's greeting with a similar meaning to the Japanese "Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu" (Happy New Year).
Japan has "Tai" (sea bream), Germany has "Pigs"? "Glücksschwein" for good luck
"To be lucky" in German = "to have a pig"?
In Japan, auspicious foods typically include "tai" (sea bream) for its association with "medetai" (auspicious), and "ebi" (shrimp) symbolizing longevity. However, in Germany, the ultimate lucky charm is undoubtedly the "pig." In German, a "lucky pig" is called a "Glücksschwein."
In fact, there's a German idiom, "Schweine haben" (to have pigs), which precisely means "to be lucky" or "to have unexpected good fortune." Its origins date back to the Middle Ages, with one theory suggesting that piglets were given as consolation prizes in sports competitions, leading to the idea of being "lucky to get a pig (food/wealth) even if you lost." Another theory points to pigs, being prolific, as symbols of "prosperity" and "wealth."
Consequently, it's customary in Germany for people to exchange cute pink marzipan pigs with family and friends at New Year's, wishing each other good fortune for the year. The sight of pig figurines holding four-leaf clovers overflowing the streets of Germany around year-end is quite charming.
Schmatz Style! Boost Your Luck with Delicious Pork and German Beer
While marzipan pigs are lovely, at Schmatz, we wholeheartedly recommend the approach of directly incorporating good luck into your body with delicious pork dishes!
Pork dishes such as sausages and schnitzel (German-style cutlets), which are indispensable in German cuisine, are the very essence of "Glücksschwein." And what perfectly enhances the juicy flavor of pork is authentic German beer.
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Sausage × Helles: A crisp lager that neatly cuts through the richness of meat fat is a classic pairing.
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Schnitzel × Lager: The crispy coating and sweet pork perfectly match the rich, malty flavor of German lager.
How about pairing lucky pig dishes with German beer for your first meal of the New Year?
Sweet or Spicy? German-style Russian Roulette: "Berliner Pfannkuchen"
The Secret Behind Fried Doughnuts Indispensable on New Year's Eve
From New Year's Eve into the New Year, there's a pastry consumed in massive quantities across Germany: "Berliner Pfannkuchen." It's a round, fried doughnut-like pastry filled with jam and generously dusted with powdered sugar, as common in Germany as "toshikoshi soba" is in Japan.
However, what makes Germans interesting is their playful twist on this tradition. Among the piled-high "Berliner" for parties, there might be one "misfire" containing mustard!
Anyone who draws this at a New Year's party, even with tears in their eyes, turns it into a joke, dispelling bad luck for the year. It's a cheerful and lively German tradition, welcoming the New Year with humor and smiles.
The morning after drinking too much? "Fish" to freshen up! Traditional "Rollmops"
"Hangover Breakfast" Unique to a Beer-Loving Nation
The morning after a grand "Prost Neujahr!" toast. There's a traditional dish that saves hungover Germans. It's called "Rollmops."
Rollmops are pickled herring fillets rolled around gherkins and onions. In Germany, they are known as a staple of "Katerfrühstück" (hangover breakfast). The intense acidity and saltiness of the fish replenish minerals in an alcohol-weary body and sharply awaken a foggy mind.
The fact that a "hangover cure meal" is a deeply ingrained tradition even before drinking begins truly speaks to the national character of a people who love beer from the bottom of their hearts (lol).
Schmatz's "Rollmops" uses Kohada (Gizzard Shad)
While herring is traditional in Germany, Schmatz's "Rollmops" uses kohada (gizzard shad). Japanese kohada is related to herring, has a rich umami, and is deliciously refreshing when pickled. Please experience this unique dish from Schmatz, where Japanese and German food cultures merge.
Experience "Authentic German Flavors" and "Sounds of Happiness" at Schmatz
Marzipan pigs and mustard-filled donuts are fun, but the truly joyful moment is raising a glass of delicious German beer with good friends, right?
We at Schmatz were founded to bring this "happy German table" to Japan. "Schmatz" is a German word that describes the sound one instinctively makes when eating something delicious, or the sound of kissing a loved one's cheek. It truly is the "sound of happiness."
The beers offered at Schmatz adhere to Germany's "Reinheitsgebot" (Purity Law, enacted in 1516, which mandates only malt, hops, water, and yeast as ingredients) and are carefully brewed at a family-owned brewery in Bavaria with over 160 years of history. Because we "import directly from Germany," you can enjoy the authentic taste and aroma just as they are locally.
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Weizen: A fruity wheat beer recognized even in Germany.
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Helles: A golden lager, "Helles," beloved in Southern Germany.
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Lager: A rich flavor from 100% German malt.
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IPA: A German-style adaptation with a perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness.
These are all original selections, curated by our "Beer Sommeliers" with German national qualifications, available only at Schmatz.
Kick off the New Year with a Schmatz German Beer!
This year, why not embrace the German way by eating a "lucky pig" and toasting lively with "Prost Neujahr!"?
At Schmatz, we await you with a plentiful selection of juicy sausages, schnitzel—symbols of good luck—and authentic German beer. Let's start the new year with full energy in Schmatz's warm atmosphere!
For those who prefer to relax at home, we recommend purchasing bottled beer from our online shop. Choose premium German beer as a New Year's gift or a treat for yourself.
So everyone, raise your glasses. Ready, set, "Prost Neujahr!"
*Beer and food menu lineups and stock may vary by store. Please contact the store directly for details.
▼ Toast to the New Year at Schmatz! Find a store near you: List of Schmatz locations here
▼ If you want to enjoy authentic flavors at home: Schmatz Online Shop here
