New Year's Day

New Year's Day, known in Italy as Capodanno or il primo dell'anno, is observed annually on 1 January and is a national public holiday. Its modern date derives from the Gregorian calendar, introduced in the Catholic world in 1582 and progressively adopted across Europe. The celebration also reflects much older Roman traditions: January was associated with Janus, the two-faced god of beginnings, transitions, doorways, and change, whose name gives the month its Italian and English names. In 2026, New Year's Day falls on Thursday, 1 January.

In contemporary Italy, Capodanno is both a secular civic occasion and part of the wider Christmas and winter holiday season. It represents a symbolic passage from the old year to the new one, encouraging reflection, family reunions, good wishes, and hopes for prosperity. Although New Year's Eve, or San Silvestro, is often the liveliest night, New Year's Day itself remains an important day for rest, visiting relatives and friends, attending religious services, and beginning the year with optimism. It is followed by Epiphany on 6 January, which traditionally concludes the Italian Christmas season.

Many Italians celebrate the transition on the night of 31 December with a cenone di Capodanno, an elaborate festive dinner shared with family or friends. Common foods include lentils, whose round shape symbolizes coins and future prosperity, and cotechino or zampone, traditional pork preparations often served with lentils. Regional menus vary widely and may include seafood, pasta, risotto, roasted meats, panettone, pandoro, torrone, and sparkling wine. At midnight, people exchange wishes of Buon Anno! or Felice Anno Nuovo!, raise a toast, and watch fireworks or organized light displays, although the use of private fireworks is subject to local safety rules and restrictions.

Symbolic customs remain popular, especially wearing red underwear or red clothing, traditionally associated with luck, love, vitality, and protection from misfortune. In some households, the New Year is welcomed with grapes, dried fruit, or other foods believed to bring abundance, while families may make resolutions and send greeting messages to loved ones. New Year's Day is often spent slowly over a long lunch, visiting relatives, taking a walk in town, or enjoying public concerts and events. A suitable greeting is Buon Capodanno! or simply Buon Anno!, meaning Happy New Year.