Avram Emilia

Damescu
Luciana
Raicu Elena
Urse Valentina
New year in Italy
Italy 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 Years 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-style
Traditionally, heres how Italians,
particularly in southern Italy, have launched
their celebrations on New Years Eve: by
throwing old pots, pans, clothes, appliances,
even furniture out the window. Really! Its 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 Years 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 dont like fire! Its 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 luck
Yep, thats
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
Years Eve meal is all about symbolizing
abundance. After all, thats what
youre hoping the new year will be
about! In Piedmont, rice represents
coinsso 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 thats boiled over low
heat for about four hours before
serving. Although the cotechino from
Modena is an IGP (legally-protected)
product, its also traditional to
Lombardy, Molise, Trentino and the
Veneto. You might also
see zampone, sausage that comes in a
hollowed-out pigs 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 hasnt 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 Years
Eve! Practically every
city, and many of Italys
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