NYE Rome Traditions and Festivals

New Year’s Eve is known as la Festa di San Silvestro (Feast of St. Sylvester) in Italy. New Year’s Day is called Capodanno. On both days you will find people celebrating by eating lentils symbolizing wealth or pork specialties such as cotechino or zampone symbolizing richness for the coming year. Fava beans are also widely eaten for good luck.

At midnight, there are fireworks displays throughout Italy with the largest and longest taking place in Piazza del Popolo in Rome. The fireworks last for an hour and also there is a concert that goes on for hours both before and after the fireworks.

Whatever your choice of rituals, if you are celebrating New Year’s in Italy, you will be well entertained until dawn - and beyond if you wish!