3 Crazy Facts About New Year’s Eve

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In many countries, New Year’s Eve is known as Saint Sylvester’s Day. No, they didn’t make Sylvester the Cat into a saint. Saint Sylvester used to be plain old Pope Sylvester before he was promoted. He was pope from 314 until he died in 335. He was buried on Dec 31st, 335, and that day remains Saint Sylvester’s Day in many German-speaking countries. One historian I talked to told me, “I still think they should make Sylvester the Cat into a saint. Or at least Wile E. Coyote.”

In Quebec, Canada, many people go ice fishing on New Year’s Eve. Sounds like fun. At least you have plenty of ice for your cocktail.

In Mexico, they’ve adopted a tradition from Spain called the 12 grapes. You eat 12 grapes in 12 seconds, one for each of the final bongs of the clock on the New Year’s countdown. They say it’s harder than it looks. Come on!

“Twelve, eleven, ten, oops…,nine, wait, back up, oops, dropped another one, WAAAAIIIITTTT!!!