Divining with Lead - A German New Year's Custom
"Bleigiessen" by Micha L. Reiser
Molybdomancy is a form of magic which includes cures and divination using molten lead. The usual technique is to heat the metal to melting point, then pour into water, allowing it to set. When being used for divination, the shapes formed help the reader discover what my occur in the future, or give the answer to a specific question. Some traditions describe how the lead will show the reader the face of their future husband!
Throughout the ages, this technique has been mentioned in Greece, Turkey, Iran, Bosnia, Ireland, the British Isles, Germany, and Scandinavia. As well as divination, it is also used in some countries as a cure against the evil eye.
But it is to Germany that we look, as we investigate one of the more interesting traditions of the New Year.
Known as "Bleigießen" (Bleigiessen) in Germany, the melting of lead is a traditional activity during the festival known as Sylvester, which falls on 31st December.
Lead of course, is toxic, so in modern times tin or pewter is used instead to carry out this activity.
A small tin shape is placed in a spoon and is melted over a candle. The molten metal is then poured quickly into a cup or bowl of water. It is hoped that the shape it forms when it cools will give the reader a glimpse of what the coming year will bring. The guide below explains what the shapes are said to foretell.
Silverster night in München (Munich)
Love and Relationships
Angel – A peaceful heart, and happiness with your age
Antlers - Unhappy love, jealousy
Baby - Domestic peace
Bed - Practice sex carefully
Bee - A Wedding draws close
Beetle - An affair draws close
Bell - Announces upcoming offspring
Bra - Fulfilment in love
Broom – Keep away from your mother-in-law!
Bucket - Fulfilment in a relationship
Chimney sweep – Good luck in love
Daggers - A favour from a friend
Dog - Faithful friends
Donkey - A long awaited legacy will bear fruit
Egg - Family growth
Elephant – Great strength during a relationship crisis
Falcon - Someone is jealous of you
Flower - A new friendship develops
Garden - A new love enters your life
Guitar - Secret longings, a wish
Gun - Betrayal in love, discord and slander
Hand - Loyalty
Hare - A long journey, or the return of an old friend
Harp - Success in love, leading to marriage
Hawk - An enemy
Hatchet - Disappointment in love
Heart - You will fall in love in the coming year
Mask - You will be welcome everywhere
Pineapple - Secret love
Pretzel - Entanglements in love
Slippers - A wedding draws close
Stork - Fertility
Vase - You will fall in love
Women - You are beloved
Wreath - A discord ends well by reconciliation
Work and Business
Anvil - Use caution at work
Barrel - Wealth
Bush - Recognise the skill of others
Camel - Additional taxes/charges
Car - A risky enterprise draws close
Cone - Be cautious with deals
Crown - You will be rich
Cylinder - Important matters await you
Deer - Failures in trade, quarrels and disputes
Duck - Trade brings an increase in wealth
Dwarf - Someone underestimated you
Eagle - Success in business
Epee - Courage to take a risk
Fox - Be smart and use your initiative
Hammer - Go your own way, triumph over adversity
Hook - Hurdles block your way
Horseshoe - Success/profit in business
House - Your plans will bear fruit
Ladder - Promotion at work, or advancement in studies
Ladle - Financial loss
Letter - Plan something new
Medal - You gain renown and honour
Moon - Honour awaits
Nail - Better times ahead
Nut - An enterprise succeeds
Owl - Plans for the future will turn out well
Plough - You have to work harder
Rock - Much work is still to be done
Sabre - Problems at work
Sail boat - Business success ahead
Scissors - An important decision awaits
Sleigh - Use your connections
Snake - Someone is jealous of your success
Stag - Success/profit in sight
Stairs - You will be honoured
Steamboat - Luck with your plans
Triangle - Financial improvement
Luck and Fortune
Acre - Good luck
Bag - Unexpected good luck
Birds - You will be lucky
Broom - A conflict draws near
Butterfly - Fragile fortunes
Can - Uncomfortable implications await
Chalice - A happy future
Clock - Better times ahead
Cloverleaf - Luck and Satisfaction in the New Year
Dancer - Don't take life too seriously
Dice - Lottery win
Dog - Incredible news is brought forth
Dove - Prosperity and affection
Dragon - A great and sudden change
Eagle - A change of residence brings luck and riches
Face - Honour
Fish - Gaming/gambling luck
Fishing rod - Grab your fortune and luck with your hands
Frog - Lottery win
Goblet - Lucky future
Golf player - A lucky strike awaits
Greyhound - Good luck through hard work
Hat - Good news is coming
Mug - Luck
Pig - Gaming/gambling luck
Pipe - Dangers ahead
Rider - Ongoing luck
Screwdriver - Be satisfied with what you have
Sheaf – Good luck
Sun - Luck in all things
Zeppelin - Everything will turn out well
A selection of shapes formed during bleigiessen.
With thanks to Christoph for aid with translations.
© 2015 Pollyanna Jones
Comments
Kristen Howe from Northeast Ohio on January 02, 2016:
Polly, this was very interesting to know about this German Christmas tradition. It's very useful and resourceful to know those symbolic images from lead divination. Thanks for sharing.
Brian Langston from Languedoc Roussillon on January 01, 2016:
Think it should be re-branded as Pollybdomancy! (c)
peachy from Home Sweet Home on January 01, 2016:
awesome hub, even bra is included in the list!
Pollyanna Jones (author) from United Kingdom on December 31, 2015:
River, you know that's a good point! I have just checked that out, and of molybdenum I found this "The name is from Neo-Latin molybdaenum, from Ancient Greek Μόλυβδος molybdos, meaning lead, since its ores were confused with lead ores". I've learned something new today!
Thank you emge and Brian. May you both be blessed with a frog!
River on December 31, 2015:
So why is it called molybdomancy when molybdenum is a completely different mineral?
Brian Langston from Languedoc Roussillon on December 31, 2015:
What a fascinating read Polly! I really enjoyed it. Wishing you barrels, ladders and Zepellins for 2016...and no camels!
MG Singh emge from Singapore on December 31, 2015:
Fascinating hub. I always like such posts which are out of ordinary
