The German word for the New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31 is Silvester.
German-speaking communities commonly call the evening Silvester, referring to Pope Sylvester I, whose feast day falls on December 31. The name is also used in parts of Switzerland, Austria, and other regions influenced by German usage, though local customs and spellings can differ.
German Silvester traditions include fireworks, social gatherings, sparkling wine, and lucky symbols such as chimney sweeps, four-leaf clovers, pigs, and horseshoes. The television sketch “Dinner for One” has become a particularly famous New Year’s Eve tradition in Germany despite originating as a British production.
Silvester should not be confused with Weihnachten, the German word for Christmas. Nor is it the name of a month or a separate calendar system. The term identifies the final evening of the year, while Neujahr refers to New Year’s Day on January 1.