New Year’s Eve in Italy, or Capodanno, is a celebration steeped in rich tradition and national charm. The night is a joyful farewell to the old year and a hopeful welcome to a buon anno (good year). Across Italy, you’ll find a shared sense of festivity, and not surprisingly, food will take center stage. Italians like to don a new pair of red underwear for luck, while in the south, it’s traditional to throw items out the windows at midnight. Out with the old, in with the new, right? Fireworks light up the sky, and many will be eating grapes or lentils at midnight—for good luck and prosperity. All over Italy, Capodanno is a time of warmth, celebration, and true Italian hospitality.
1. Throw out the old – literally out the window
The concept of “out with the old, in with the new” is taken quite literally in Naples and across Southern Italy, where locals usher in midnight by tossing old dishes and furniture out the window and onto the street. This tradition is thought to clear out your house in preparation for better things to come in the year ahead. While it may seem surprising or even a bit chaotic, it’s generally seen as a celebratory and symbolic gesture, not a destructive one. Magically, the trash is cleaned up by the next day. So, if you’re wandering the streets of Naples on New Year’s Eve, be sure to keep an eye above you at midnight to avoid falling plates and pans!
2. A Red Undie Spectacular
In Italy, New Year’s Eve is all about Rosso — the color red, believed to bring good luck for the year ahead. One of the most charming Italian traditions is wearing red underwear on Capodanno, a custom thought to attract prosperity and happiness in the coming year. According to tradition, these red undergarments should be gifted to you, and they’re meant to be thrown away the day after, symbolizing the release of any lingering misfortune from the previous year. This custom has been passed down for centuries, with roots tracing back to the Middle Ages. So, why not join in the fun and start the year with a little extra luck? Slip into a new pair of red underwear and embrace the tradition! They’re usually on display in every shop window — a true red undie spectacular!
3. 12 Grapes at Midnight and Other New Year’s Delights
On New Year’s Eve in Italy, the table is brimming with rich, symbolic dishes designed to usher in a year of prosperity. The evening’s feast centers around cotechino e lenticchie — a savory pork sausage served with lentils, symbols of abundance and wealth. The cotechino, a sausage made from the pig’s leg, is rich and fatty, symbolizing abundance, while the lentils, resembling tiny gold coins, are believed to bring good fortune. As the clock strikes midnight, many Italians follow the tradition of eating twelve grapes—one for each chime—believing they’ll bring luck and prosperity for the coming year. It’s said that “Chi mangia l’uva per Capodanno conta i quattrini tutto l’anno,” or “He who eats grapes for New Year counts money all year round.” After indulging, raise a glass of bubbly to wash it all down—cheers to a year filled with flavor, fortune, and fun!
4. Cassata: The Sweet Finale to the Feast
Cassata is the grand finale of many Italian New Year’s feasts. This indulgent cake, originating from Sicily, is made of sponge cake layers moistened with fruit juices or liqueur, filled with sweetened ricotta, candied fruits, and bits of chocolate, then covered in pastel-colored marzipan. It’s often decorated with colorful candied fruits, making it as visually striking as it is delicious. Cassata has been gracing Italian holiday tables for centuries, symbolizing abundance and the festive spirit. Once reserved for royalty, it remains a symbol of joy and opulence, making it the perfect way to end the season of indulgence.
Serve your homemade cassata on our beautifully handcrafted Sicilian Plates inspired by the vibrant traditions of Caltagirone, Sicily, for an authentic Italian presentation.
5. Fire and Ashes: Warding Off Evil Spirits for the New Year
On New Year’s Eve in Italy, the Yule Log is more than just a symbol of holiday warmth—it’s a fire ritual with deep-rooted significance. Burning the Yule Log on the last day of the year is believed to ward off evil spirits, who are said to dislike fire. The ritual is also seen as an invitation to bring warmth and light to the coming year. After the log has burned, the ashes are kept as a protective charm to safeguard the house in the months ahead. Some families take it a step further, smashing glassware like plates and vases to scare away bad omens. As midnight approaches, fireworks light up the sky, adding spark and noise to banish any lingering bad spirits and usher in a year of good fortune. It’s a time of bright traditions, warmth, and festive protection.