What is the name of New Year's Eve in France, referring to Saint Sylvester?

In France, New Year's Eve is commonly called Saint-Sylvestre, referring to Saint Sylvester's feast day.

December 31 is the feast day of Pope Sylvester I in the Western Christian calendar. Because the date falls on the final evening of the year, the saint's name became a French label for both the evening and its celebrations.

French people may also refer to the occasion as le réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre, emphasizing the festive late-night meal. Parties, dinners, champagne, music, and greetings are common parts of the celebration, but customs vary between households.

Saint-Sylvestre is a date name, not the name of a particular national fireworks show. The term also appears in other French-speaking regions, although local celebrations and vocabulary can differ.