Saint Sylvester's Day

Saint Sylvester's Day Feast of Saint Sylvester
Saint Sylvester as depicted in the 13th century Livre d'images de madame Marie [fr]
Also called	Silvester
Observed by	Anglicanism, Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism, Reformed
Type	Christian
Significance	Feast Day of Pope Saint Sylvester I Final day of the Gregorian calendar
Celebrations	Fireworks, Theatre-going, Feasting, Making a toast, Partying[1]
Observances	Attending a Watchnight Mass, often held around midnight
Date	31 December (Western Christianity) 2 January (Eastern Christianity)
Frequency	Annual
Related to	New Year's Eve, Christmastide, New Year's Day, Feast of the Naming and Circumcision of Jesus, Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

Saint Sylvester's Day, also known as Silvester or the Feast of Saint Sylvester, is the day of the feast of Pope Sylvester I, a saint who served as Pope from 314 to 335. Medieval legend made him responsible for the conversion of emperor Constantine. Among the Western churches, the feast day is held on the anniversary of Saint Sylvester's death, 31 December, a date that, since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, has coincided with New Year's Eve. For these Christian denominations, Saint Sylvester's Day liturgically marks the seventh day of Christmastide.^[2] Eastern churches celebrate Sylvester's feast on a different day from the Western churches, i.e. on 2 January. Saint Sylvester's Day celebrations are marked by church attendance at a Watchnight Mass that is often held around midnight, as well as fireworks, partying, and feasting.^[1]