New Year's Eve

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.