New year in Italy

Avram EmiliaDamescu LucianaRaicu ElenaUrse Valentina

New year in ItalyItaly is one of the most vibrant cities in Europe that is known for its rich cultural appeal. The people of Italy love to celebrate and the calendar year throughout the year are marked with different festivities. New Year in Italy is one of the most significant festivals observed through entertaining carnivals and shows throughout the country. This celebration of January 1 is known as il Capodanno and the fiesta of December 31 is known as La Festa di San Silvestro. 

New Year’s Eve in Italy (La Festa di San Silvestro)

The celebration of the eve of New Year witnesses a grand festivity just like the day of January 1. The fiesta, which is also known as La Festa di San Silvestro holds its major highlight in food and feast. No celebration in Italy is ever complete without great food. A grand dinner is planned on the night of December 31 with family members and close fiends for company. The major preparation of the meal includes lentils, representing money and good fortune. A traditional meal for dinner also consists of a zampone, stuffed pig's trotter or a cotechino, a large spiced sausage. Preparation of the pork represents the richness of life in the forthcoming year. 

New Year Celebration in Italy

January 1, which is also known as il capodanno, observes spectacular displays of fireworks and dancing shows. Most of the towns and cities of the nation witnesses public display of such shows along with private parties. Firework displays and dance shows are also featured in the parties. The city of Naples is popular internationally for hosting the biggest and best shows of firework display in Italy. This extravagant display is considered pious and believed to ward off evil forces of the previous year.

New Year Traditions in Italy Celebration of New Year in Italy is marked by the following of a set of

traditions and customs. These traditions are believed to bring in good luck and charm for the coming year and ward off evil forces of previous year.

Some of the age-old traditions that are still followed are -The people of Italy are known for their religious beliefs and faithfulness towards their religion. January 1 and December 31 witnesses the gathering of thousands of Italians in churches and cathedrals. People even attend the midnight mass to welcome the New Year. This is considered as one of the main traditions of New Year in Italy.

Throwing away old materials like, furniture, utensils, and clothes out of the window is another significant tradition that marks the New Year celebration in Italy. This custom is believed to bring in good luck by throwing away the ill fate of the previous year. Another significant custom followed is burning of the Yule Log, which is lit all through the night of December 31 until the morning of January 1.

Banish past bad luck and old pans Italian-styleTraditionally, here’s how Italians, particularly in southern Italy, have launched their celebrations on New Year’s Eve: by throwing old pots, pans, clothes, appliances, even furniture out the window. Really! It’s meant to symbolize “letting go” of past unhappiness to prepare yourself for the future. Although most Italians have abandoned the tradition, do watch your head on the streets of Naples on New Year’s Eve!

Fire up the ol’ Yule Log one last time

Another tradition is to fire up the Christmas log on the last day of the year. Turns out, evil spirits don’t like fire! It’s also a gesture of invitation to the Virgin Mary, who can warm newborn Jesus next to the warm flames. Afterwards, according to tradition, families would use the ashes as charms to protect the house from damage.

Wear red undies to ring in luckYep, that’s right: Red underwear brings luck. This goes for men and women. So that explains why you see all the red underthings hanging in shop windows at this time of year!

Eat the right dishes for a wealthy New Year

In Italy, a traditional New Year’s Eve meal is all about symbolizing abundance. After all, that’s what you’re hoping the new year will be about! In Piedmont, rice represents coins—so traditional dinner is risotto in bianco (white risotto). Elsewhere in Italy, lots of dishes feature lentils (which symbolize wealth) and raisins (for good luck).

One particularly popular dish is lentils served up with cotechino, a big pork sausage that’s boiled over low heat for about four hours before serving. Although the cotechino from Modena is an IGP (legally-protected) product, it’s also traditional to Lombardy, Molise, Trentino and the Veneto. You might also see zampone, sausage that comes in a hollowed-out pig’s trotter. When either one are sliced, the pieces look like coins… so this too, of course, is meant to give wealth in the new year!

Give treats to make the New Year sweet

To ensure a sweet new year, ancient Romans gave each other jars of dates and figs in honey, along with a bay branch for good fortune. Guess what? This hasn’t changed much, at least in Naples, where people exchange figs wrapped in laurel leaves.

Watch out for fireworks

Fireworks and lots of noise also “scare” the bad spirits away. So, of course, expect lots of fireworks on New Year’s Eve! Practically every city, and many of Italy’s towns, put on a dazzling display. On a riskier note, families and groups of friends will often host their own, or simply throw firecrackers. So be careful walking around!

biografia