When New Year's Eve Was Called Sylvester

Audiobook at Everand (Scribd): https://www.everand.com/audiobook/957288116/Yule-tide-in-Many-Lands

"Sylvester, or New Year's Eve, is the next occasion to be observed during Yule-tide. The former name was given in honor of the first pope of that name, and still retained by many. After the usual church service in the early evening, the intervening hours before midnight are spent in the most boisterous merriment. Fun of all sorts within the limit of law and decency prevails. Any one venturing forth wearing a silk hat is in danger of having his hat, if not his head, smashed. "Hat off," cries the one who spies one of these head-coverings, and if the order is not instantly obeyed, woe betide the luckless wearer. At midnight all Germany, or at least all in the cities and the larger towns, may be seen out-of-doors or leaning from windows, waiting for the bells to ring out the Old Year and welcome in the New. At first stroke of the bells there arises one universal salute of Prosit Neujahr (Happy New Year). It is all good-natured fun, a wild, exuberant farewell to the Old Year--the closing scene of the joyous Yule-tide."

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"The observance of New Year on January first, according to the Gregorian Calendar, was instituted by Peter the Great in 1700. The previous evening is known as St. Sylvester's Eve, and is the time of great fun and enjoyment. According to the poet, Vasili Andreivich Zhukivski:

    "St. Sylvester's evening hour,
     Calls the maidens round;
     Shoes to throw behind the door,
     Delve the snowy ground.

     Peep behind the window there,
     Burning wax to pour;
     And the corn for chanticleer,
     Reckon three times o'er.

     In the water-fountain fling
     Solemnly the golden ring
     Earrings, too, of gold;
     Kerchief white must cover them
     While we're chanting over them
     Magic songs of old."

- Yule-Tide In Many Lands by Mary Poague Pringle and Clara A. Urann, 1916