New Year’s Eve is called Silvester in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.
The name comes from Saint Sylvester I, a fourth-century pope whose feast day is December 31. German-speaking communities use Silvester both for the date and for the celebrations surrounding it. Typical festivities include parties, fireworks, sparkling wine, countdowns, and regional foods.
The word does not mean a separate calendar holiday from New Year’s Eve. It is the German-language name for December 31, while Neujahr refers to New Year’s Day on January 1. In everyday use, people may speak of Silvesterabend for New Year’s Eve evening, though terminology can vary by region.
Saint Sylvester’s association with the date developed through the Christian calendar. Modern Silvester celebrations are largely secular and festive, showing how a saint’s feast-day name remained attached to a widely observed civil holiday. Germany’s celebrations also include fortune-telling customs, lucky symbols, and the annual televised “Dinner for One” tradition.