As the clock counts down on New Year’s Eve, Italians embrace a centuries-old tradition of bringing “Good Luck” into their lives and pushing away any bad vibes.To ensure success for the new year ahead, certain items should never be absent from an Italian celebration, such as :
cotechino,
lentils,
rice
grapes,
nuts and dried fruit,
pomegranate,
red fruit
Spumante or Prosecco
red candles
and red chili pepper must always be present to ward off bad luck!
How to celebrate New Year’s Eve Italian Style
As we move into the new year, it’s essential not to forget all the enjoyable traditions that come with it! Kissing beneath the mistletoe is a lovely symbol of love and luck.
In Naples, some people free up space for something more important by chucking their old possessions off balconies onto the streets below – an amusing and liberating way to start anew (but be prudent when strolling on the sidewalk).
Remember to slip on your trusty red underwear to guarantee good luck and protection! This age-old superstition has stood the test of time for generations.
Traditional New Year’s Eve Dinner in Italy
Italians have a big dinner on New Year’s Eve before midnight. This is called a “Cenone di Capodanno or Cenone di San Silvestro.” For a usual New Year’s Eve supper in Italy, you may expect a 4 to 5-course feast containing classic Italian cuisine!
An antipasti platter is the perfect way to start any meal, as it can be tailored to suit individual tastes and cater to all palates!
The first meal consists of risotto or pasta. Enjoy meat or fish and complimentary side dishes such as vegetables and potatoes for your second meal.
What about dessert? The third meal will include panettone, torrone, and other sweet delicacies, followed by an assortment of cheeses, dried & fresh fruits, and biscuits.
Finally, coffee with grappa and amaro!
However, an Italian New Year’s Eve dinner would only be complete with the traditional serving of Cotechino and Lentils.
Cotechino and lentils are typically served after the midnight toast, along with sparkling wines to ring in the new year and bring good fortune.
Depending on the area of Italy you visit, you may meet a variety of typical meals and dishes. The food you try depends on the tradition and customs of each region. Nevertheless, Cotechino and lentils will remain a timeless classic.
“Cotechino & Lentils: A New Year’s Eve tradition”
Is there a better way to kick off the New Year than with “lucky foods”? Italians think that eating lentils and cotechino sausage on New Year’s Eve will bring them good fortune in the next year.
The introduction of lentils during the last dinner of the year has historical roots. This custom stretches back to Roman times when the legume was considered a long-term investment for the coming months.
Lentils are also one of the meals associated with good fortune.
This concept stretches back to Ancient Rome, when people thought lentils would turn into coins. People would present them as New Year’s gifts in a little bag called a “scarsella” as a desire for wealth and success.
Cotechino is likewise of remote origin. We’re in the Middle Ages, more particularly 1511. Papal forces besieged Pico Della Mirandola and his people. Hence, Pico della Mirandola instructed his folks to slaughter the remaining pigs and stuff their flesh inside the animals’ legs and skin to keep them from starving. The end product was a delectable baked sausage that will keep for a long time.
Cotechino and lentils were historically considered poor man’s food. They are typically reasonably inexpensive nowadays, making them a fantastic choice for a large supper such as New Year’s Eve.
Why do Italians believe chili peppers are lucky?
Italians tend to imagine that by wearing red underwear, eating chili peppers, and discarding old items from their balconies in Naples, they would be rewarded with good luck in the new year.
Chili peppers have grown into an enduring symbol representing a long-standing tradition because of their strong resemblance in shape, size, and color with good luck horns.
For centuries, people have believed in the power of magic to combat evil. Amulets, talismans, and other objects containing magical power have been used to keep away bad luck and invite good fortune.
In Naples specifically, you can find a talisman referred to as “corno” in Italian. “Corno” translates directly to “horn” in English.
The “cornicello” (or small horn) is a curved, horn-shaped talisman thought to bring good luck. It can be of any material, including gold, silver, coral, and bone.
The hue and shape of red cornicelli bear a resemblance to chili peppers. In Naples, you can see garlands of these peppers hung up as a symbol of good luck.
The usage of horns as auspicious charms dates back to prehistoric times when humans hung horns at the entrances to their caves to display physical supremacy and fertility. Our forefathers used to carry horns as amulets. They weren’t red or tasty, but they represented that the person wearing them was powerful and had killed many animals.
With the progress of time and evolution, we have progressed from displaying hunting trophies to placing horns on the heads of great warriors as a symbol of their divine ancestry. With time, people began mass-producing these images out of lesser materials like wood and clay after seeing their beauty and thinking they carried spiritual power.
Thus the chili pepper, similar in shape and size to a good luck horn, has become a symbol of an ancient tradition that remains strong even today.
Other popular good-luck foods for New Year’s Eve in Italy
If you want to eat like an Italian on New Year’s Eve and score some good luck in the process, also try these foods :
Rice
The rice grain symbolizes abundance and fertility, which is why we often see it thrown at weddings.
Ancient Romans already had the custom of using rice instead of other cereal like wheat since it was less expensive and affordable for everyone.
On New Year’s Eve, to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one, you can scatter a few raw rice grains on the table or place them in a small bowl. Or, for good luck, you can carry some in your pocket.
Grapes
According to an Italian tradition, whoever eats grapes for New Year’s counts a lot of money all year.
Symbol of abundance, wealth, and prosperity, this fruit stands for gains and good profits for the new year, personal growth, and closing with the past.
It is usual to eat twelve grapes at midnight, one for each month of the year, according to a Spanish ritual now adopted also in Italy.
Dried fruits
Walnuts, almonds, dates, and figs are considered good omens and represent prosperity and fertility. On New Year’s Eve, these delightful snacks are a must-have for any successful celebration.
The tradition of scattering walnuts on the floor before a wedding dates back to ancient Rome, which was considered good luck. The custom represented a desire for a happy and prosperous life together.
In Italy, it is customary to eat seven different types of dried fruit on New Year’s Eve (hazelnuts, walnuts, peanuts, almonds, dates, dried figs, and raisins).
You can serve them in small bowls scattered in the dining room, but you can also use them to enrich one of the many traditional Italian sweets.
Pomegranate
The pomegranate is an ancient fruit and a potent symbol of prosperity and abundance.
According to Greek mythology, pomegranate is a sacred fruit, and eating it during Christmas or New Year’s is considered good luck. With its beautiful, bright, juicy, sweet, and slightly sour grains, it enhances any sweet and savory preparation.
You can also use it as a place card or to enrich a homemade centerpiece: it will give a warm and typically festive atmosphere in an instant.
Kick off the New Year with an Authentic Italian Toast!
Toasting each other is a tradition that has been around for centuries and is still popular today. Whether celebrating a special occasion or just enjoying a night out with friends, raising a glass is always an excellent way to show appreciation.
The Ancient Greeks would offer toasts for good health and fortune. This gesture was a way of being transparent with other diners that the drinks served were not poisoned.
The Romans inherited this habit from the Greeks. They also added a curious detail to the tradition: they used to dissolve toasted breadcrumbs in the wine to reduce its acidity.
The toast became quite an important ritual in the Roman Senate. Today, it is a must during the New Year’s Eve celebration.
A sparkling wine, such as Italian Prosecco, is appropriate for the New Year’s toast, or “Brindisi” in Italian.
The “Brindisi” (or toast) is an excellent way to begin the new year with joy and happiness, full of hopes, aspirations, and ambitions!
Buon Anno ! Happy New Year!
Celebrating New Beginnings: Red Underwear, Decluttering & Fireworks
Red Underwear
Italians celebrate the New Year by choosing bright red underwear, which they think brings good luck for the next year!
Some scholars believe that wearing red on New Year’s Eve originated with the ancient Romans, specifically in 31 BC during the reign of Octavian Augustus.
New Year’s was a particular time in Rome, as people donned red clothing to represent power, fertility, health, and wealth.
In the Middle Ages, the color red had two meanings. It meant victory over enemies, including the Devil, and good luck.
Wearing red on New Year’s Eve is not only a tradition, but it is also trendy.
If you want to ensure luck and positivity in the upcoming year, there is a golden rule regarding your Christmas and New Year’s underwear that many don’t know about. You should not buy red underwear for yourself, but if it is gifted as a present, all will be good!
In Italy, usually, friends exchange their red underwear gifts before the New Year’s Eve celebration.
The tradition of clearing up and Throwing away stuff
In Italy, New Year’s Eve is a particular time to celebrate. Many traditions are unique to this holiday, such as wearing red underwear for good luck and eating cotechino and lentils.
One tradition still observed today, especially in the southern regions of Italy, is the custom of clearing out your old belongings in preparation for the new year. Italians believe this brings fresh energy into your life for the coming year.
Italians traditionally throw out old items to symbolically let go of the past. They will often dispose of old clothes, furniture, pots, and pans by leaving them outside their door or sometimes even throwing them out the window! Be careful of errant pans flying through the air if you are in Naples.
If you want to follow an old Italian tradition, remove things from your home that caused negativity last year.
This action will leave you feeling refreshed and positive going into the new year.
Fireworks Tradition
Many New Year’s traditions have a specific ritual and spiritual depth. In the past, people would fire rifles into the sky to drive away demons or use cannon fire from buildings.
To scare away evil spirits, people in some cities would run through the streets ringing cowbells and making a lot of noise.
Nowadays, firecrackers and fireworks are a traditional way of celebrating the new year in Italy and many other parts of the world.
We ring in the new year with laughter and plenty of noise.
The loud noise is said to scare away evil spirits, and people often stay up until midnight to watch the display. Fireworks light the way into the new year as we hope for a better future.
Auguri!
Italians use “Auguri” to say “good luck” on NYE. Still, they use the same word on many other occasions, such as birthdays or special life events.
Auguri e Buon Anno Nuovo!
This holiday season, celebrate with your loved ones!
Whether you’re spending time with family or friends, keep in mind to make the most of it and enjoy yourselves.
We wish you all a Happy New Year and all the best in the coming year!
What are your favorite traditions during this holiday season? Let us know in the comments below.
