Zone1 Who knows why in Central Europe the New Years Eve is called Silvester?

[Zebra]

Because it is the name day of Pope Silvester

 

[Gabe Lackmann]

A Pope

 

[Zebra]

A Pope

By coincidence

 

[Meathead]

A Pope

Yeah, it's called Sylvester in CZ too.

 

[Zebra]

Ever since 1582

 

[JGalt]

 

[Zebra]

And today is the day of an Irish monk called Silvester.

 

[my2¢]

I didn't completely understand the connection between the Pope and Dec 31st, but Google says it was the date of his death.

Then it bewildered me if there was any special connection between Pope Sylvester and Germany. I asked Google AI. That provided a few sentences about the matter, but it would take a good bit of historical reading for me to fully understand the significance.

A prior post telling of St. Martin's Day was one that I quite easily embraced and found memorable.

 

[Zebra]

It was a widespread custom in Europe to tell the date by using the name days of the saints.

 

[Zebra]

Because it is the name day of Pope Silvester

Some Germans mistake the name and write Sylvester, English style.