New Year's Eve is called “Silvester” in Germany and several other European countries.
The name comes from Pope Sylvester I, who died on December 31, 335. His feast day is observed in the Western Christian calendar on December 31, so the date became associated with the final evening of the year in German-speaking regions and some neighboring countries.
In Germany, Silvester customs include fireworks, parties, midnight toasts and the televised sketch “Dinner for One.” The British comedy sketch became an unusually strong New Year's tradition in German-speaking countries despite having relatively little cultural presence in Britain.
Silvester should not be confused with the German word for New Year's Day, “Neujahr.” The celebration begins on the evening of December 31 and continues into January 1. The same name is also used for New Year's Eve in countries such as Austria, Switzerland, Poland and parts of Italy, although local customs differ.