Harmony rings in new year
HARMONY — The borough rang in the new year Sunday German-syle.
The annual Silvester celebration was held Sunday afternoon in the borough, culminating with a ball drop and fireworks display at 6 p.m. — which corresponds to midnight in Germany.
The event featured numerous traditional German attractions, including a pork and sauerkraut dinner; gluhwein, a German mulled wine served hot; and bleigiessen, a German fortune-telling tradition. There was also a 5 km race and a 1 km fun run organized by the borough’s parks department, a Christmas tree throwing contest, music and other refreshments.
The event is put on by the borough, Historic Harmony and the Harmony Business Association, said Rodney Gasch, Historic Harmony president.
Gasch, who was serving gluhwein while wearing traditional German lederhosen, said that the snow and chilly temperatures were appropriate for the time of year.
“This is great. It’s dry this year, last year was wet and miserable,” he said.
Among the several thousand visitors to the borough Sunday were at least two German natives, who both said that they approved of the festivities.
Max Leschinsky of Cranberry Township, a native of Germany, said that he remembers both gluhwein and bleigiessen from growing up there.
“The gluhwein is very authentic,” he said. ‘That’s a big part of the Christmas season there.”
A full story will appear in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.
