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From: minow@decvax.UUCP (Martin Minow)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Sylvester (New Year's Eve)
Message-ID: <1@decvax.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 26-Nov-84 20:51:21 EST
Article-I.D.: decvax.1
Posted: Mon Nov 26 20:51:21 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 28-Nov-84 02:03:51 EST
References: <263@varian.UUCP>
Lines: 16

In Sweden, the most common first names have an associated day
of the year, treated as an excuse for a low-key celebration
(perhaps a nice dinner).  Sylvester's "nammsdag" just happens
to be December 31st, and New Year's Eve celebrations are
consequently often called Sylvester for that reason.

I would imagine that it is possible that a visiting Swede brought
the name of the holiday to Israel.

I don't know how names and dates became associated, nor do I know
of name's day celebrations outside of Scandinavia.

Martin Minow
decvax!minow