סילבסטר

Hebrew

Etymology

From Latin Sylvester.

Proper noun

סִילְבֶסְטֶר • (silvéster) m

1. a male given name, equivalent to English Sylvester
2. Saint Sylvester's Day, (Gregorian) New Year's

Usage notes

• In Israel the term is applied to the Gregorian New Year, to distinguish it from Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. The term is also sometimes used disparagingly by and towards diaspora Jews to discourage participation in Gregorian New Year's celebrations, by calling to attention the fact that Pope Sylvester I was an antisemite.