What is France’s traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, named for Saint Sylvester, commonly called?

France’s traditional New Year’s Eve celebration, named for Saint Sylvester, is commonly called Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre.

Réveillon refers to a late-night festive meal or celebration, while Saint Sylvestre is the French name for Saint Sylvester’s feast day on December 31. Together, the phrase identifies the evening’s traditional celebration and the elaborate meal that often accompanies it.

French families and friends may mark the occasion with champagne, special dishes, music, and a midnight toast. Customs differ considerably between households and regions. In Paris, large public gatherings and celebrations often center on the Champs-Élysées or the Eiffel Tower, although official programs can change from year to year.

The phrase is not the name of one single nationwide spectacle. It describes a cultural observance, much as “réveillon” can also refer to the Christmas Eve meal, known as Réveillon de Noël. Saint Sylvester was a fourth-century bishop of Rome and pope.