In the German New Year’s Eve custom Bleigießen, lead was traditionally melted and dropped into water to create a shape for fortune-telling.
The name means “lead pouring.” Participants heated a small piece of lead on a spoon or similar implement, then poured it into cold water. The resulting solid shape was interpreted as a symbol of what the coming year might bring. Some people used charts or imaginative comparisons to identify meanings.
Because lead is toxic, German consumer-safety rules led to the sale of lead-free alternatives, commonly made from wax or other materials. The older name remains widely recognized even when the modern kit no longer contains lead. This is why descriptions of the custom can mention both the traditional material and safer replacements.
Bleigießen is a New Year custom rather than a scientific method of prediction. The shapes are random physical results, and their meanings come from folklore and personal interpretation, not verified forecasting.