New Year's Eve 2022: Five harbingers of good luck for the new year
Created: 12/31/2022, 6:00 p.m
By: Elena Royer, Dominik Stallein
Growing and thriving: You can buy green happiness in Sonja Sauerbrey-Epp's nursery.
© Private
On the search for a portion of luck for the year 2023, we came across an XXL horseshoe, an involuntary photo model and other omens of good luck.
Chimney sweeper as a harbinger of luck for weddings and co.
Petra Ittlinger has been a chimney sweep for 34 years.
The Wolfratshausenin ensures the safety of stoves, chimneys and heating systems in Munich's Glockenbachviertel.
She also poses in wedding photos free of charge, as she says with a laugh: "The companies are always very happy when they see me or a colleague during their celebrations." She has never counted how many wedding photos Ittlinger now smiles next to the bride and groom.
"There are a few, but it's not enough to make it full-time." That's why ittlinger's existence as a harbinger of good luck is just a nice secondary aspect of her work.
The picture is still very widespread.
She notices this in the many people she meets between her assignments over the roofs of Munich.
"Many want to shake my hand,
It's easy to recognize: the traditional chimney sweeper's outfit reveals Petra Ittlinger's profession.
© Private
The belief that Ittlinger and their fellow guild members, who are still mostly male today, are messengers of good luck dates back to the Middle Ages.
In cities where chimney sweeps settled, there were significantly fewer devastating fires.
"The chimney sweeps have ensured more security."
A special horseshoe brings luck for the new millennium
For a similar reason, horseshoes are still considered lucky charms today: the iron fittings were an important protection against serious injuries for the horses.
As Tom Carstens from Münsing knows, there is a second aspect.
"Iron was so expensive in the Middle Ages that almost no one could afford it." Anyone who found a horseshoe took the valuable piece to the local blacksmith and had a weapon or tool forged from it.
The blacksmith was more than just a sought-after craftsman at the time.
Because of the special atmosphere in the forge with the warming fire in the oven, the workshops of Carsten's predecessors became popular meeting places for the whole town.
Even today, Carsten's forge in Degerndorf still has a very special flair.
Flames are licking in the oven, next to it,
70 hammers of different sizes hang from the massive anvils.
These are historical models, as Carstens explains.
Quite inconspicuously, almost hidden behind tools and decorative iron ornaments, there is another special document hanging in the 49-year-old's workshop.
A certificate from the year 2000, issued by the record institute.
Together with fellow guild members, the Münsinger family man holds the Guinness World Record for the largest hand-forged horseshoe in the world.
It was created on the night of the millennium, i.e. on New Year's Eve 1999. It hangs on the Werdenstein ruins in the Allgäu.
The giant lucky charm weighs 100 kilograms.
Almost hidden behind tools and decorative iron ornaments, another special document hangs in the 49-year-old's workshop.
A certificate from the year 2000, issued by the record institute.
Together with fellow guild members, the Münsinger family man holds the Guinness World Record for the largest hand-forged horseshoe in the world.
It was created on the night of the millennium, i.e. on New Year's Eve 1999. It hangs on the Werdenstein ruins in the Allgäu.
The giant lucky charm weighs 100 kilograms.
Almost hidden behind tools and decorative iron ornaments, another special document hangs in the 49-year-old's workshop.
A certificate from the year 2000, issued by the record institute.
Together with fellow guild members, the Münsinger family man holds the Guinness World Record for the largest hand-forged horseshoe in the world.
It was created on the night of the millennium, i.e. on New Year's Eve 1999. It hangs on the Werdenstein ruins in the Allgäu.
The giant lucky charm weighs 100 kilograms.
The largest horseshoe in the world was forged by Tom Carstens (2nd from left) on New Year's Eve 1999/2000.
© Private
Has it brought Carsten's luck?
At least the Münsinger has a special view of happiness.
"It's not the big things that make you happy.
Happiness is always something small, something special or a beautiful moment with other people.” He sees what makes him happy every day during his work: “It is incredibly beautiful when you hold something in your hands that you have created yourself.” And preferably not in the stressful everyday time pressure, but full of enjoyment and attention to detail.
Lucky pigs bring joy to the garden
Animal company: Johanna and Paul Miller keep two pigs – Paula and Willi.
© Sabine Hermsdorf-Hiss
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They live in the Miller family's garden and make them happy.
Willi and Paula are the names of the two domestic pigs who moved in with the Eglingen couple Johanna and Paul Miller more than eight years ago.
Since then, the two bundles of joy – each weighing 70 kilos – have been spreading happiness in the Miller household.
"In principle, it's the same with pigs as with cats or dogs: if you have animals around, then that's something positive, that's happiness," says owner Paul Miller.
The decision to buy the duo was made because the family wanted to experience that animal happiness - but there were obstacles.
Johanna Miller has a cat hair allergy.
And a dog takes more time.
When she saw a report about domestic pigs on TV, she was blown away.
For the clever animals – researchers compare their intelligence to that of primates – New Year's Eve is a day like any other: “They usually hole up in their stables in the evenings,” says Paul Miller.
And probably Willi and Paula don't even notice how many people give themselves miniature pigs at the turn of the year.
The rare four-leaf clover is easy to find in nurseries
They are rare finds: four-leaf clovers.
Anyone who finds one can count themselves lucky.
That is why the plant is often given as a gift, especially at the turn of the year.
The four-leaf clover can also be bought at the Epp nursery in Reichersbeuern.
Whether with a chimney sweep as a decorative plug, a champagne bottle or a glittering hat - "the clover is definitely in demand," says boss Sonja Sauerbrey-Epp.
The plant is popular as a table decoration or as a gift for guests.
In Reichersbeuern, however, the lucky clover is not self-sown.
"He's cultivated," explains Sauerbrey-Epp.
“We buy the clover.
That wouldn't be profitable because of the one day.” In order to be able to enjoy the growing lucky charm for as long as possible, it should be in a location that is not too warm, advises Sauerbrey-Epp.
"You don't have to water it much." Every three to four days is sufficient, because: "The lucky clover is a bulbous plant, in which it stores water."
Glückspfennig for the turn of the year is no longer so popular
Medina Bajrami (Raiffeisenbank) with a lucky cent.
© Private
If you give away a lucky penny, or today a lucky cent, you wish that the recipient never runs out of money.
It is rare that someone still gives away the small coins today.
At least the Raiffeisenbank in the Oberland did not register any increased demand for cent pieces or coin rolls at the end of the year, as CEO Romy Moser explains.
But is the little lucky charm still something that many people carry around in their wallets?
"In my opinion not," says Moser, "since more and more people are using card payments."
dst/roy
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