Mercy’s Anzeiger 30/12/1854 published an advertisement announcing: ‘For the festival of the Sylvester-Evening takes place at the festively lit and elegantly decorated ground-floor [Parterre] of the Archduke Stephan on Wenceslas Square, the Music Trial to the Society Balls taking place on 24th January and 14th February. Those attending may make use of the apartments [of the venue] for private entertainment. Johann Kaula, host.’ No further details of this event were given by the source. The specification that private rooms of the venue may be utilised by those attending the event reflected the extent to which New Year represented perhaps the single most important day of the year for public and private entertainment and celebration. The advertisement was repeated in the newspaper on 31/12/1854.