What is the traditional German name for New Year's Eve?

The traditional German name for New Year's Eve is Silvester.

German-speaking communities use Silvester for December 31, the final day of the calendar year. The name comes from Saint Sylvester I, whose feast day is observed on December 31 in the Western Christian calendar. In German, the spelling is commonly Silvester, while the saint's name is often written with a y in English.

German New Year's Eve customs include fireworks, festive meals, sparkling wine, and gatherings with friends or family. In some places, people also watch the British comedy sketch “Dinner for One,” which became an unusually durable New Year's television tradition in German-speaking Europe despite being little known in Britain.

Silvester should not be confused with the German word for New Year's Day, Neujahrstag, which is January 1. Nor is it the name of a separate national holiday date: it is the customary name for the evening and day before the new year begins.