New Year’s Eve
By Tami Lancut Leibovitz | Master of Manners
The civil (Gregorian) calendar is the calendar by which secular, economic, and business life is conducted in most countries around the world — including Israel.
Therefore, New Year’s Eve is a universal, civic, and global occasion. It is not a religious holiday, but rather a shared cultural milestone.
It is important to be precise: this is not a religious holiday
In Israel, a common misconception surrounds the use of the term “Sylvester.”
The origin of this term lies in a Catholic memorial day marking Pope Sylvester I — and it has no connection to New Year’s Eve celebrations themselves.
Therefore, the correct, respectful, and accurate name is:
New Year’s Eve- not a religious holiday, and not necessarily “Sylvester Night.”
For the Israeli public, this is a civic and cultural occasion, not a religious event.
When does it take place?
New Year’s Eve is observed on the night of December 31, and at one precise moment — 00:00, the first minute of January 1 — the year officially changes.
Around the world, this moment is marked by:
Private and public parties
Festive dinners
Celebrations in central squares
Cultural and artistic events
The most familiar custom is the countdown:
Ten seconds before midnight, people count down from ten to one, welcoming the New Year with joy, applause, and sometimes a kiss and fireworks
A global celebration — not a Christian one
New Year’s Eve is celebrated even in countries whose official religion is not Christianity — including Japan, China (alongside their own calendars), Muslim countries, South America, Australia, and more.
The reason is simple:
This is the calendar that governs civil daily life — culture, economy, commerce, diplomacy, and international relations.
As such, it is an evening that bridges:
Cultures
Religions
Nations
Languages
and allows us all to begin a new year with a renewed sense of possibility.
Midnight Kiss Etiquette
The midnight kiss has become a cultural symbol — but it, too, has rules of etiquette:
There is no obligation to kiss exactly at midnight — any moment is suitable, and earlier is often better.
If you are alone, do not seize the moment to kiss a complete stranger. A festive occasion is not permission to invade personal space.
For couples, honor romance rather than drama. A warm kiss, not a performance.
Polite kissing only — cheek to cheek: right to right, left to left.
Remember: erotic kissing in public is considered impolite, especially in crowded public spaces.
True manners also require sensitivity: Those around you may be experiencing separation, loss, or loneliness.
Celebrate — but do not embarrass.
Nice to know: where did kissing originate?
Anthropologists point to three historical origins of kissing:
The transfer of food from mother to child — the basis of affectionate kissing.
Chewing and transferring tobacco — a source of erotic kissing.
A spiritual belief in the merging of souls — breath passing through the mouth as a symbol of connection.
Even the Inuit nose-rubbing gesture is intended to unite souls, not lips.
A few interesting facts about kissing:
A one-minute kiss burns approximately 26 calories
The average person spends about two weeks of their life kissing
In Russia, a kiss from the Tsar was considered the highest honor
In Europe, greetings often involve two — and sometimes four — air kisses
In the Victorian era, men were encouraged to kiss a woman’s hand
The longest recorded kiss lasted 29 hours
The longest underwater kiss lasted 2 minutes and 18 seconds
And finally — a graceful and universal wish
Happy New Year.
A year of health, calm, and new beginnings,
of respectful human connections,
and quiet hope for brighter days — here and around the world.
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