New Year's Eve in Germany is called Silvester, after the fourth-century Christian saint Saint Sylvester.
Saint Sylvester I was bishop of Rome from 314 until his death in 335. His feast day is December 31, the date of his death according to Christian tradition, so German-speaking usage came to associate the saint's name with the final day of the year.
German Silvester celebrations commonly include gatherings, midnight toasts, fireworks, and festive food. A long-standing custom was Bleigießen, fortune-telling by interpreting shapes made from molten lead dropped into water. Because of health and environmental concerns, lead versions have been restricted in the European Union, and wax or other materials are used instead.
Silvester is not the name of Germany's Christmas season or its spring Walpurgis Night celebrations. The word is also used for New Year's Eve in several other German-speaking areas, including Austria and parts of Switzerland, though local customs differ.