Italians celebrate New Year's Eve, also known as St. Sylvester's Feast, on December 31. Many people have a New Year's dinner including risotto in bianco, lentils, cotechino sausage, and zampone sausage for luck and prosperity in the new year. Traditions include throwing pots and pans out windows to release the past and firing logs to ward off evil spirits and invite Mary and Jesus. Schools, government offices, post offices, and banks are typically closed on New Year's Day.

1. NEW YEAR IN ITALY
Andrés Serrano, Andrés Gómez ,
Carlos Acosta

2. • New Year’s Eve, also known as St Sylvester’s
Feast (La Festa di San Silvestro) in Italy, falls on
December 31.

3. What do they do?
Many people celebrate a New Year’s dinner with
dishes that include:
• Risotto in bianco (white risotto).
• Lentils (symbolizing wealth/good fortune).
• Cotechino (pork sausage boiled over low heat
for hours before serving).
• Zampone (a type of sausage).
• Raisins (for good luck).

4. SYMBOLS
• Throwing pots, pans, and clothes out of the
window to let go of the past and move toward
the future.
• Firing a Christmas log before New Year’s Day
to turn away evil spirits (who don’t like fire)
and invite the Virgin Mary to warm newborn
Jesus.
• Wearing red underwear for good luck.

5. Many organizations, businesses, and educational
institutions are closed on New Year’s Day,
including:
• Schools.
• Government offices.
• Post offices.
• Banks.