St. Sylvester I, December 31
Pope from 314 to 335, Sylvester led the Church just after Constantine granted it freedom, when the first great basilicas of Rome were built. He died on December 31, which is why New Year’s Eve is called Silvester in much of Europe. The same day honors St. Melania the Younger.
On the General Roman Calendar, December 31 is an optional memorial: Saint Sylvester I, pope.
Other saints on December 31
- St. Melania the Younger, founder of monasteries in Jerusalem (439)
Name days on December 31
In countries that keep name days, December 31 is the day for people named Sylvester and Melania. These names come from the same saint, as variants, nicknames or forms used in other languages.
| Name | Feast day |
|---|---|
| Sylvester | December 31 |
| Melania | December 31 |
December 31 on the calendar
December 31 is the 365th day of the year (the 366th in a leap year), with 0 days left until December 31. Here is the day of the week it falls on in the coming years:
| Year | Day |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Thursday |
| 2027 | Friday |
| 2028 | Sunday |
| 2029 | Monday |
| 2030 | Tuesday |
Keeping December 31
December 31 falls in the Christmas season. As an optional memorial, each parish or priest may choose whether to celebrate it. Families who keep name days often mark the day with a card, a candle or a favorite meal, and parishes named after the saint may hold a festival. If you know someone named Sylvester and Melania, it is a good day to send a note.
Saints of the week around December 31
| Date | Saint or feast |
|---|---|
| December 28 | Holy Innocents |
| December 29 | St. Thomas Becket |
| December 30 | St. Egwin |
| January 1 | Mary, Mother of God |
| January 2 | Sts. Basil and Gregory |
| January 3 | Most Holy Name of Jesus |
The day before, December 30, is the day of St. Egwin. The day after, January 1, belongs to Mary, Mother of God. Looking for a name? Try the name day calendar or go back to today’s saint.