Germany’s New Year’s Eve celebration and December 31 holiday are commonly called Silvester.
The name comes from Saint Sylvester I, who died on December 31, 335. His feast day became associated with the final day of the year in parts of Europe, and the German form of his name, Silvester, became the usual term for New Year’s Eve.
German celebrations often include fireworks, parties, sparkling wine, and a midnight countdown. The expression “Guten Rutsch” is commonly used before the New Year; it means “good slide” in its modern interpretation and functions as a seasonal good wish.
Silvester is not the name of Germany’s Christmas celebration, and it is distinct from Oktoberfest, the beer festival held mainly in Munich in September and October. The term specifically points to the New Year’s Eve period.