New Year's Day

**New Year's Day in Italy (Capodanno)** New Year's Day, known as *Capodanno* in Italy, is celebrated on January 1st and marks the beginning of the new year with great enthusiasm and tradition. Italians welcome the new year with a mix of ancient customs, modern festivities, and heartfelt rituals. The celebrations typically begin on New Year's Eve (*La Festa di San Silvestro*), where families and friends gather for lavish dinners featuring traditional dishes like *cotechino e lenticchie* (pork sausage and lentils), symbolizing prosperity and good fortune. At midnight, fireworks light up the skies across cities and towns, and people toast with sparkling wine, often *Prosecco* or *Spumante*. A unique Italian tradition is wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve, believed to bring luck and love in the coming year. Another custom involves throwing old belongings out of windows to symbolize letting go of the past and embracing new beginnings. On New Year's Day, many Italians attend church services to seek blessings for the year ahead. The day is often spent relaxing with family, enjoying leftovers from the previous night's feast, or taking part in outdoor activities like concerts, parades, or winter festivals. Overall, New Year's Day in Italy is a time of joy, reflection, and hope, blending ancient superstitions with modern celebrations to welcome the future with open arms.