What are Israelis celebrating on Yom Sylvester?
A. They are celebrating the birthday of Pope Sylvester I, who was the first Pope to visit the Holy Land.
B. While Israelis of British descent celebrate Boxing Day on the day after Christmas, Yom Sylvester is the equivalent celebrated by Israelis of Italian descent.
C. Secular New Year's Eve. The name was "imported" from Germany, where Sylvester Day commemorates Saint Sylvester, who died on December 31.
D. This holiday is in memory of Sylvester Goldshtein, who was the first speaker of the Israeli Knesset. He died on January 1, 1956.
E. This is the New Year for cats. Israelis also celebrate Yom Pluto, the New Year for dogs, Yom Flicka, the New Year for horses, and Yom Ben, the New Year for rats (The Knesset banned Yom Porky celebrations).