New Years Eve in Germany

the fireworks we bought to celebrate the New Year! This can be purchased at just about any store and on New Year's Eve it is actually legal to set these off in the streets. The boys are thrilled that they get to participate in this pyrotechnic activity.
Stacie, Robert and Corena the dog.

Chris, Stacie's husband and Jared.
Jim, his daughter Jill and Caleb
playing a British dice game called Shock
James and Brian chatting and trying to get their poppers to work.
James, Brian and Grant.

Shaggy, Chris & Stacie's British friend and everyone trying out their poppers.

After all the food, visiting and games we headed outside for fireworks.


The smoke aftermath of all the fireworks being let off.
Caleb with his 3 foot long sparkler.




It is crazy here the amount of fireworks that are allowed to be set off in the street outside of everyone's homes. Seems so dangerous but no one was hurt. We did however, see the burning embers raining down around us as well as hear the sticks from the rockets falling around us. James actually nearly caught a large piece of burning debris from one of the fireworks that we set off. We were outside for well over an hour setting off fireworks. All over the neighborhood others were doing the same thing. And right at the new year the Germans walk around wishing everyone a "Frohes neue jahr". One couple actually even stopped and talked to us for a few moments. It was quite enjoyable. After all the festivities we chatted for a little longer and made it home around 2 am.

I tried taking videos of all the fireworks being set off but apparently I didn't actually push the "record" button. Bummer! Really I wanted to show you all exactly how many fireworks are going off and where. It is everywhere and most of the fireworks are almost as large as you would see in a city firework display. Only it is going on all over the place. You can see fireworks going off up and down the street, on the streets around the neighborhood. Lots of people are setting up their displays on the street in front of their house. Of course, in some cases, there are lots being set off and in others they are just coming outside to set up a few fireworks. Maybe next year I will be able to get either better photos or a video to share with you.

FROHES NEUE JAHR, EVERYONE!!!