Our daughter, 2 grandsons and German son-in-law are permanent residents of Germany. They live in Rindemoos, a little "suburb" of Biberach/Riss, about a half hour south of Ulm. Their little residential enclave is rather private, consisting only of culs-de-sac off a more major road, a lovely and quiet little nook. In the "center" of the enclave, there's somewhat of a traffic circle (not a roundabout, just a larger cul-de-sac) with a manhole cover in the center of it. On New Year's Eve, one of the residents make a huge amount of stew (of some kind, generally wild game, I think). They set up a big tripod over the manhole, build a wood fire thereon, hang the old black kettle, and all the neighbors gather to eat hot stew, drink whatever they've brought, "reden", shoot the fireworks at midnight, and they have a really "together" experience for Silvesterabend. Dave Ross Denver, CO