watch night

the last night of the year, observed in a watch meeting.

Origin of watch night

First recorded in 1735–45

You remember, too, that my announcement for the watch-night service informed you that we should watch in the new year.

The Cornish Fishermen's Watch Night and Other Stories |Anonymous
My men and I were on our way to watch-night service, and saw it all from a distance.

The Laughing Cavalier |Baroness Orczy
But some explanation is supplied why the "Watch-night" is not recognised in the calendar of the Church.

Expositor's Bible: The Epistles of St. John |William Alexander
The Saints, I suppose, had watch-night services of their own, for they were conspicuous by their absence.

Eugene Field, A Study In Heredity And Contradictions |Slason Thompson

The Wesleyans kept "watch-night" in all their chapels on the night of the 31st July.

The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus |American Anti-Slavery Society

watch night

the night of December 24, during which a service is held to mark the arrival of Christmas Day
the night of December 31, during which a service is held to mark the passing of the old year and the beginning of the new

the service held on either of these nights