Aeroplane
An aeroplane points to travel, progress and change. Things pick up speed.
New Year Wax Reading: Pour Your Figure
Melt the wax, drop it into cold water and see what shape shows up. Nebu reads your New Year wax reading (molybdomancy) with 50 traditional figures, for you alone or for two.
Wax pouring is a New Year’s game and a tradition, not a prediction. Meanings vary from region to region. Have fun with it and decide your year yourself.
All 50 wax figures
A
Anchor
An anchor means settling down, stability and trust. A safe harbour is near.
Apple
An apple stands for abundance, love and a hint of temptation. Sweet, with a little twist.
Arrow
An arrow means stay on course and make clear decisions. Aim first, then let go.
B
Ball
A ball is luck in games and a playful turn of events. Things may roll in your favour.
Bird in flight
A bird in flight stands for freedom, travel and a new perspective. The view gets wider.
Bridge
A bridge means transition, connection and a way across. Something that felt far away becomes reachable.
Butterfly
A butterfly means transformation and joy of life. Something changes shape, and it is pretty.
C
Car
A car says stay flexible and keep moving. Plans may change on the way, and that is fine.
Cat
A cat means independence and intuition. You do things your way.
Cloud
A cloud stands for small worries that pass and for dreaminess. It drifts away.
Coiled snake
A coiled snake stands for change and renewal. A few lists say watch out, so keep your eyes open.
Crescent moon
A crescent moon stands for intuition and a dreamy phase. Slower, softer hours are on the way.
Crown
A crown means recognition and success. Someone notices what you have been doing.
Cushion
A cushion means rest and restful sleep. Time to take it easy.
D
Dog
A dog stands for loyal friendship. Someone has your back.
Dove
The dove stands for peace, reconciliation and harmony in love. Old quarrels may finally settle.
E
Egg
An egg means something new is growing. Some lists read it as news in the family.
Elephant
An elephant stands for stamina and strength. It points to a demanding time that makes you stronger.
F
Fish
A fish is a classic charm for luck and prosperity. Keep it light, it is a symbol and not a bank statement.
Flower
A flower brings new acquaintances, friendship and sometimes love. Something small is about to open up.
Fly agaric mushroom
The red fly agaric is the German symbol of luck, the “Glückspilz”. It brings unexpected luck, though some lists add a gentle “look before you step”.
Four-leaf clover
The four-leaf clover is the best known luck charm there is. It promises luck and good news.
H
Hammer
A hammer means hard work pays off and you can assert yourself. Nail it down.
Heart
A heart stands for love, deep friendship and romance ahead. Tradition says the feelings are real.
Horse
A horse means power, freedom and new paths. A good time to leave the stable.
Horseshoe
A horseshoe means luck is near and success is within reach. Hung the right way up, it keeps the luck inside.
I
Island with a palm tree
An island speaks of a longing for travel and a proper break. A little rest on the horizon.
K
Key
A key means new chances and doors that open. Something that was stuck may finally move.
Knot
A knot stands for ties, a knot to untie or a change. Something is tangled and wants your attention.
L
Ladder
A ladder points to a career step and rising up. One rung at a time.
Little house
A little house stands for home, maybe a move or a new nest. Something cosy takes shape.
Lucky pig
The lucky pig is the German New Year’s charm of abundance and good fortune. People give it away as a sweet marzipan treat.
M
Mermaid
A mermaid stands for dreams that are hard to reach and for depth. Beautiful, a little elusive.
N
Needle
A needle says mind the details. Read the small print and keep an eye on the finer points.
O
Owl
An owl stands for wisdom and secrets. Something hidden may come to light.
P
Pair of wings
A pair of wings means freedom and transformation. A feeling of lift is possible.
R
Ring
A ring points to partnership, commitment, engagement or a wedding. In a looser reading it simply means a bond that holds.
Rocket
A rocket is full speed ahead. Things take off quickly, so hold on.
Rose
The rose is the classic sign that love deepens, and in some lists even a proposal. Mind the thorns, they come with the package.
S
Sailing ship
A ship means a journey, an adventure or a turning point. Wind is coming, one way or another.
Shoe
A shoe stands for moving on with deliberate steps. You choose the direction and the pace.
Small dragon
A small dragon stands for courage, power and a challenge worth taking. Small, but fierce.
Star
A star is a sign of hope and wishes that come true. It is one of the friendliest figures in the bowl.
Suitcase
A suitcase means a trip ahead and a bit of adventure. It can also mean you are carrying something you could set down.
T
Tower
A tower stands for stability and protection, and also for a challenge to climb. Solid walls, steep stairs.
Tree
A tree means growth, stability and a heart’s wish that comes true. Roots first, then leaves.
Turtle
A turtle stands for patience and steadiness. It gets there in the end.
U
Unrecognisable lumpy blob
A blob means nothing is recognisable, so everything is still open. This is the running joke of every wax pouring.
W
Water drop
A drop stands for letting go, with better times after. What flows away makes room.
What is a New Year wax reading?
Molybdomancy is the old art of reading the shapes that melted metal or wax makes in cold water. On New Year’s Eve, families in Germany, Austria and Switzerland do it for fun. It is also known in Finland and the Baltic states, where people call it tin casting.
The idea is simple. You melt a small amount of material, pour it into a bowl of cold water and wait a second. It hardens into a lumpy figure. Then you lift it out and decide what it looks like.
That last step is the best part. Hold the figure up to a candle and look at its shadow on the wall. A blob can suddenly turn into a dragon, a house or a very suspicious cloud.
How to read your figure
Look first, then decide. The first thing you see is usually the one that counts. If two people argue about what it is, both readings are allowed, and the argument is half the fun.
Traditional lists give each figure a meaning. A heart stands for love, a clover for luck, a ship for a journey, an anchor for staying put. Many figures are friendly. A few ask you to pay attention to details or to a small worry.
Meanings differ between regions and families, so there is no single correct list. Nebu’s 50 figures are condensed from the most common ones. Treat them as a game and a prompt for a good chat, not as a prophecy.
Pouring as a pair works too. Each of you gets a figure, and Nebu adds a short line about what your new year looks like together.
Why the lead is gone
Classic pouring kits used a lead alloy. Since 2018 these sets are no longer sold in the EU. The alloy contains far more lead than the limit set by the EU chemicals rules (REACH) allows, which is 0.3 percent.
Lead fumes and dust are not something you want in the kitchen, least of all around children. That is why most households switched to wax or to lead-free tin. The custom survived and got a lot cleaner.
Nebu’s version needs no metal at all. Everything on this page happens on your screen, so nothing can burn, spill or stain the tablecloth.
Wax pouring safely at home
Want to do it for real? Collect candle remnants and melt them in an old heat-proof spoon over a tea light, or in a small pot set in a hot water bath. Wax is considered harmless, but hot wax is still hot.
Set a bowl of cold water on a stable table. Pour the wax in a thin stream from a small height, then fish the figure out with a spoon. Dry it off and hold it in front of a candle to see the shadow.
Never leave a flame unattended and keep long sleeves and hair away from it. Children should only pour with an adult nearby. Afterwards, let the water cool and throw the wax in the household waste, not down the drain.
A game, not a forecast
Nobody can read your year from a lump of wax. What the ritual does give you is a pause. For a minute you look at a shape, say what you hope for and laugh about what you see.
That is a surprisingly good way to start a year. A figure can be a conversation starter, a small intention or just a reason to stay up until midnight. Nebu approves of all three.
Frequently asked questions
What does molybdomancy mean?
Molybdomancy is fortune telling from the shapes of molten metal or wax poured into cold water. The word comes from the Greek for lead. Today most people pour wax, and they do it as a New Year’s Eve game.
Is lead pouring banned?
Pouring sets with lead have not been sold in the EU since 2018, because the alloy contains far more lead than the legal limit of 0.3 percent. Wax or lead-free tin are the usual replacements.
What do the most common wax figures mean?
Traditionally, a heart means love, a clover or horseshoe means luck, a ship or suitcase means a journey, and an anchor or house means home and stability. Nebu lists 50 figures with their meanings.
How do I pour wax safely?
Melt candle remnants in a heat-proof spoon or a water bath, pour into a bowl of cold water and never leave a flame unattended. Children should only join with an adult. Wax is considered harmless, but hot wax can still burn.
What if my figure looks like nothing at all?
Then you got the lumpy blob, a running joke of the custom. Tradition says that nothing recognisable means everything is still open. That is not bad news.
Is a wax reading accurate?
It is entertainment and reflection, not a prediction. Meanings vary by region and family, and the figure is mostly decided by what you see in it. Use it as a conversation starter for the new year.