Link from where I got the information in the project
Italians love holidays, and Christmas or New Year’s is no exception. La Fasta di San Silvestro is celebrated on December 31st in Italy. The Romans prepare for the celebration with great excitement and joy. Preparations begin with cleaning houses and workplaces, decorating the city with garlands and paying much attention to decorating the home.
The locals put on new clothes and exchange gifts these days. Gifts in general play a very important role in attracting fortune to homes. People are very careful in their choice for their loved ones, sweets, honey, dishes, gold, silver, money and lamps are considered “correct”. Every gift means something and has a special function, which is why Italians believe in finding happiness by giving and receiving them.
As with most Italian festivals, food plays a major role here. Families and friends gather together at a huge table. The star of the dinner is lentils, symbolizing money and good luck for the coming year. Traditional dinners in many regions of Italy also include cotechino, homemade spicy sausage, or zampone, stuffed piglet. Pork symbolizes wealth in the coming year. And, of course, on every table you will see Spumante or Prosecco, local sparkling wines.
In Italy, the New Year is a holiday filled with traditions. Do you want to get lucky this year? There is an old custom that is still followed in some places, especially in the south of the country — to throw things out of the window — old pots, pans, clothes, household appliances and even furniture to symbolize the readiness for the New Year. This is done in order to “let go” of past misfortunes and prepare yourself for the future. While most Italians have abandoned the tradition, watch out for falling objects as you walk the streets on New Year’s Eve!
Another curious tradition is to wear red underwear on a holiday. It is believed that this will certainly bring you good luck in the coming year. And this applies to both men and women and explains why you see an abundance of these red garments in the windows at this time!
To ensure a sweet New Year, the ancient Romans gave each other jars of dates and figs dipped in honey, along with bay leaves for good luck. But what now? In Italy, almost nothing has changed, at least in Naples, where people still exchange figs wrapped in bay leaves today. Another tradition is to burn the «Christmas log» on the last day of the year. It turns out that evil spirits do not like fire! It is also a gesture of invitation to the Virgin Mary, who can warm the newborn Jesus next to a warm fire. Then, according to tradition, families would use the resulting ash as an amulet to protect the house from damage.
The Italians believe that fireworks and a lot of noise also «scare» evil spirits away. Therefore, on New Year’s Eve, the whole sky lights up with numerous fireworks. Naples is especially successful in this — it is considered that it hosts some of the best and largest New Year’s fireworks in Italy. In many cities, stages are set up in the central squares where festive concerts take place, or a large fire is kindled, in which the festivities continue until the morning. In Rome, Milan, Bologna, Palermo and Naples, outdoor entertainment shows featuring many famous pop and rock bands are very popular. Families often host bingo-like lotteries at home. Italians party noisily until dawn to celebrate the first sunrise of the New Year.
Celebrations in Rome are traditionally held in Piazza del Popolo («People’s Square»). Huge crowds gather here, with music, dancing and, of course, fireworks. The holiday lasts until late at night, and on the first day of the New Year (while adults are sleeping), children will be entertained on the square by clowns and acrobats. Another good place to celebrate is near the Colosseum along Via dei Fori Imperiali, where there is live music usually starting around 8pm until midnight. You can enjoy an elegant evening with dinner in an excellent restaurant, with panoramic views of Rome and live jazz. Or go to the theater — many of them present holiday concerts and performances these days. Or spend time in one of the many nightclubs in Rome with incendiary parties until the morning. And in the church of Santa Maria del Popolo, you can see the exhibition «100 Nativity Mangers» with traditional scenes of the Nativity from 100 regions of Italy and other countries of the world, which runs until January 8th.
In the famous resort of Rimini on the Adriatic coast, which is so loved and popular among tourists in summer, the most famous Italian nightclubs are open in winter and there are the best places for celebration. In addition, in addition to numerous discos and bars, an extensive entertainment program is arranged on Fellini Square on New Year’s Eve. Music and dancing never stop here, and at midnight you can watch the grandiose fireworks over the sea.
Naples is known as one of the cities with the best fireworks on New Year’s Eve. In addition, there are many outdoor musical events, especially in the Piazza del Plebiscito in the city center, where you can hear not only popular, but also classical, folk and rock music. And yes, be careful — in some areas of Naples, people still throw their old things out of the windows! Also here and in small towns nearby there is still a tradition similar to our caroling. Groups of amateur musicians (mostly children) go from house to house playing and singing Christmas songs. So that luck does not leave you in the coming year, you must definitely thank them with a small gift of money or sweets. On the island of Capri near Naples, local folklore groups tend to perform at Piazzetta in Capri and Piazza Armando Diaz in Anacapri on January 1st.
Bologna traditionally celebrates the New Year with a procession with a «diver», a scarecrow of a frightening appearance, decorated from horns to tail with flowers and ribbons. Churches ring bells, spectators light candles and, of course, fireworks sparkle everywhere. The procession ends in the central square of Piazza Maggiore, where live music is played, performances are held, and a Christmas market is laid out. At midnight, the scarecrow is solemnly thrown into the fire — the Italians believe that all the hardships and troubles of the old year will burn with it.
Many restaurants in Venice go out of their way to create an unforgettable feast for their guests. And if you decide to celebrate the New Year in one of the local establishments — although it will cost you a pretty penny — it will be an unforgettable evening with many delicious dishes and fine wines. You can be sure of this, and do not forget to make a reservation ahead of time, because the places in them are very popular. On the first day of the New Year, many restaurants will be closed, but as a rule, you can expect pizzerias, eateries and Chinese restaurants to receive tourists.
The central action for the New Year takes place in Venice at St. Mark’s Square — a huge celebration with music, giant fireworks and huge groups of couples kissing at midnight. New Year’s concerts are held at the La Fenice Opera House from December 30 to January 1, and on New Year’s Eve you can attend a big festive party that starts at 8 pm and lasts until the morning. On the first day of the new year, many bathers decide to take a frightening dive into the waters of Venice, on the Lido beach. This is one of the best hangover cures!
In Pisa, at this time, there is a fireworks show over the Arno River in the very center of the city. And the Verdi Theater usually holds grandiose festive concerts on New Year’s Eve. Italy is a country of pleasure and fun, so it is not surprising that New Year’s Eve here is noisy and fun.
Many restaurants in Florence prepare extravagant dishes for the main night. The fireworks start at midnight and the best place to see it is on one of the bridges on the Arno River. Florence usually holds public concerts in Piazza della Signoria and Piazza della Repubblica. One of the most popular clubs in Florence also hosts a big New Year’s Eve party.
The city of Turin, in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, holds public celebrations in Piazza San Carlo, which you may recognize from the 2006 Winter Olympics. Live music, DJs, festive parades and fireworks highlight the evening’s events.
Discover Italian traditions and plunge into the magical atmosphere of this long-awaited holiday! In whatever corner of the country you find yourself at this time, staying there will leave you with a lot of impressions and positive emotions! Just do not forget to prepare in advance for the trip — after all, huge crowds of tourists come to Italy on New Year’s Eve. It should also be noted that driving and parking will be difficult (or even impossible) in most places, so plan your options for public transport and remember that it will be crowded too.