wax casting
This is how the alternative to lead casting succeeds
The future can also be predicted with the help of melted wax.
© Haru photography/Shutterstock.com
Pouring lead was a popular New Year’s Eve ritual until it was banned. With wax, you don’t have to forego tradition.
Lead casting was one of the oldest customs on New Year’s Eve. A piece of lead was heated on a spoon over a candle and the liquid mass then poured into cold water. This resulted in figures from which the future could supposedly be read. However, the sale of lead casting sets has been banned since 2018, as the heavy metal can cause health problems. A harmless alternative is wax casting.
Therefore lead casting is forbidden
When melting lead, toxic fumes are produced that enter the body through the respiratory tract. This can damage the organs and the central nervous system. In addition, lead squirts when heated, causing severe burns if it comes into contact with skin. In addition, the heavy metal is an environmental pollutant that belongs in hazardous waste.
Wax as an alternative to lead
Wax casting, on the other hand, is harmless to people and the environment. Corresponding sets can now be found in many supermarkets and online shops, but you can also make them yourself. To do this, chop up the leftover candle wax, put it in an empty tin and melt it in a water bath. Fish out any remains of the wick and pour the liquid wax into an ice cube mold. Gently squeeze out after cooling.
This is how wax casting succeeds
As with lead casting, wax casting also requires a bowl of cold water, ideally with ice cubes. The colder the water, the faster the wax hardens. If it is too warm, it runs on the surface. The result: a flat cake instead of a figure.
When everything is ready, place a wax blank on a spoon and hold it over a candle. As soon as the wax is liquid, pour it into the water and let it solidify. Finally remove the resulting figure and start interpreting.
What do the wax figures mean?
The Internet helps to make the right prediction. Anyone who has cast a ball can be particularly happy: the toy symbolizes the luck that is rolling in. A flower, on the other hand, promises new acquaintances, maybe even great love. Another indication of this is a heart. A fish-shaped waxwork promises financial success.