The act of passing from one year into the next; the period or events around New Year's Eve (e.g. eating toshikoshi soba, the moment of the new year).
大晦日は家族と一緒に年越しそばを食べるのが習慣だ。
It's customary to eat toshikoshi soba with family on New Year's Eve.
今年は友達の家で年越しをした。
This year I spent New Year's Eve at a friend's house.
年越しの瞬間に近くの神社へ行って初詣を待った。
At the moment of the new year, I went to the nearby shrine and waited to make the first visit of the year.