Christmas, Year-End Reflection, and a Glimpse into the New Year

A Warm Welcome to the World:
Christmas, Year-End Reflection, and a Glimpse into the New Year

In this contemplative time of the year, we extend a heartfelt invitation at our place – to people from every corner of the globe. Everyone is welcome, regardless of when, how, or if you celebrate. Christmas and the year-end are moments of gathering and reflection, a time to express gratitude and prepare for the upcoming year.

During these festive days, we sincerely thank you for the excellent collaboration and your trust. It has been our pleasure to support and advise you. Regardless of the country you come from, your support has made our year exceptional.

The holidays remind us of the importance of celebrating together and sharing the spirit of generosity. Despite cultural differences, we manage to share joy and strengthen our sense of unity.

Every country has its own traditions for welcoming the New Year, let us take a little journey through the various customs:

In Germany, it is customary to toast with a glass of sparkling wine so that New Year's wishes can come true. In some regions of Germany, the New Year is welcomed with cannon like shots. These loud bangs, much like New Year's Eve fireworks around the world, are intended to drive away evil spirits.

The French approach the new year calmly, enjoying culinary delights such as champagne and foie gras with friends and family. A mistletoe branch is hung, and at midnight, depending on the region, two, three, or even four kisses are exchanged on the cheek.

In Italy, it's customary to wear red underwear on New Year's Eve to attract luck in the new year, especially in matters of love. Celebrations often involve a lavish meal at a restaurant followed by dancing. Others prefer playing cards or holding a lottery.

According to Spain tradition, on 31st December at midnight, you eat grapes in time with each chime that rings in the New Year. Those who manage to eat all the grapes in time are said to be blessed with a year of prosperity and happiness.

In Portugal, many people hold a coin tightly in their hand at midnight, believing it will bring them financial fortune. There's also a tradition of drumming on pots and pans or smashing dishes to scare away evil spirits with a great deal of noise.

In Belgium, fireworks are (almost) everywhere. A traditional custom is for lovers to kiss under a mistletoe branch at the stroke of midnight.

During New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Slovakia, people eat sauerkraut soup with klobasa and meat. On the night from New Year's Eve to New Year's Day, it's believed that hanging up laundry brings bad luck, as it could mean something negative will happen in the family in the new year.

In Switzerland, some pagan traditions are still alive today. In a custom known as 'Archetringele' in the Bernese town of Laupen, masked individuals parade through the town trying to drive away demons with drums, whip cracks, and bells.

In the Czech Republic, sparkling wine flows freely, and there's a simple New Year's tradition: cutting an apple in half and divining fate from the pattern of the seeds. If the seeds form a star, it signifies luck in the new year. A cross, however, means misfortune

In Austria, it's common to dance the waltz at New Year's Eve. At midnight, when the rockets are launched and people wish each other 'Prosit Neujahr' (Happy New Year), the Danube Waltz is played. It is believed that dancing into the new year with lively and joyful steps brings good fortune.

With the turn of the year, we set our sights on the coming year. We are delighted to continue serving and advising our valued customers from 122 countries in the next year. This diversity is a source of inspiration and motivates us to excel further. Your trust is our incentive to continue being respectful and competent in our service to you.

May the new year be filled with positive changes and new opportunities for all of us. Let us tackle challenges together and celebrate successes. We look forward to standing by your side and venturing into a promising future together.

In this spirit, we wish you a Merry Christmas, a reflective year-end, and a successful start to the new year!