Saint Sylvester's Day

Saint Sylvester's Day Feast of Saint Sylvester
Saint Sylvester and the Emperor Constantine the Great
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
Observances	Attending Midnight Mass or a Watchnight service
Date	December 31 (Western Christian Churches) February 2 (Eastern Christian Churches)
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 (also spelled Sylvester, Szilveszter, or Sylwester) or the Feast of Saint Sylvester, is the day of the feast of Pope Sylvester I, a saint who served as Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 314 to 335 and oversaw both the First Council of Nicaea and Roman Emperor Constantine I's conversion to Christianity. Among the Western Christian 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 Silvester's Day liturgically marks the seventh day of Christmastide.Eastern Orthodox Churches celebrate Sylvester's feast on a different day that the Western Churches, 2 January. Saint Sylvester's Day celebrations are marked by church attendance at Midnight Mass or a Watch Night service, as well as fireworks, partying, and feasting.

Under the reign of Pope Sylvester I, several of the magnificent Christian churches were built, including Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Santa Croce Church, and Saint Peter's Basilica, among others. During the papacy of Saint Sylvester, the Nicene Creed, which is recited by communicants of the vast majority of the world's Christian denominations, was formulated. Saint Sylvester is said to have healed, in the name of Christ, the emperor Constantine the Great of leprosy. After dying, Saint Sylvester was buried on December 31 in Catacomb of Priscilla.