30/12/2025
It’s coming New Year and in Italy we have some traditions how to meet the Year 🇮🇹
Here are some interesting and slightly unusual facts about how Italians celebrate New Year’s:
💃 1. Red underwear—happiness beneath.
In Italy, New Year’s Eve is a time of traditions associated with good luck and love. For example, it’s customary to wear red underwear—it symbolizes happiness, wealth, and love in the new year.
But there’s a catch: it must be new or a gift, otherwise there will be no luck.
💡 In some regions, men and women even exchange red socks as a sign of love and happiness.
🍛 2. Lentils for luck.
Italians eat lentils on New Year’s Eve. The lentils symbolize coins—the more you eat, the more wealth you’ll have in the new year. They’re most often served as a side dish with fatty pork sausages called Zampone or Cotechino after midnight.
🪟 3. Throwing old things out of windows.
In Naples and some other cities, there’s a custom of throwing old things out of windows on New Year’s Eve. This symbolizes getting rid of everything unnecessary and old.
💡 Legend has it: whoever throws out the old and greets the New Year clean will be happy all year.
🎇 4. Fireworks and noise.
New Year’s in Italy is unimaginable without loud noise and fireworks. Italians believe that loud noise scares away evil spirits and attracts good luck. Even in small squares, you can hear fireworks and firecrackers all night long.
‼️ However, recently there have been many protests from pet owners and animal rights activists. This is very stressful for our “little brothers.”
🍰 5. Cakes and sweets.
Italians love sweets: Panettone, Pandoro, Torrone, and chocolate. A sweet table is believed to bring a sweet year. In some regions, they add little surprises to the dessert, like in Christmas cake.
🧙🏻 6. Befana – the good witch.
New Year’s in Italy officially continues until January 6th, when Epiphany is celebrated. According to legend, the good witch Befana brings gifts to children. She flies on a broomstick and leaves sweets for the good and coal for those who have been naughty.
💡 This is especially surprising for tourists – adults also celebrate with children!
⛲️ 7. New Year’s in the square.