The German tradition of forecasting the future by melting lead on New Year's Eve is called Bleigießen.
The name literally means “lead pouring.” A small piece of metal is heated in a spoon until molten, then poured into cold water. The hardened shape—or sometimes its shadow—is interpreted as an omen for the coming year. A heart might suggest romance, while a ship could symbolize travel.
Bleigießen is a German-speaking form of molybdomancy, a broader divination practice found in several European and Middle Eastern cultures. Similar New Year's customs may use tin or wax instead of lead. The practice was popular as a lighthearted party ritual rather than a serious prediction method.
A common mix-up is confusing Bleigießen with Silvester, the German name for New Year's Eve itself. Another important distinction is modern safety: lead is toxic, and commercially sold fortune-telling kits in Europe have increasingly used lead-free tin or wax alternatives.