Like every year, the end of December brings the fateful question: what to do for New Year's Eve? After the euphoria of the holidays, there remains the memory of the days at home with the family, the banquets and the gifts under the tree During the long Christmas evenings. Meanwhile, this is an important time to celebrate with friends. But we're certain that, even this year, we must be very careful. The pandemic is still alive and well. However, thanks to vaccines, we're a little freer. At the same time, we want to find some ideas for celebrating safely.
What to do on New Year's Eve? Travel and reopening, but stay safe.
First, it's important to remember that Italy is open. Especially for vaccinated people, there are virtually no restrictions. It's simply important to travel with a green pass. Even when traveling abroad, it's important to check the rules in force regarding hotels and restaurants. Generally, in Europe, the rules are quite similar to those in Italy. Therefore, it may be sufficient to show the Green pass upon boarding the plane. But it's also important to complete the PLF, an online certification of the countries visited before returning to Italy. Even those without a vaccination Green Pass can travel. However, to obtain the Pass, a negative swab test result is required, which is also required for re-entry to Italy. Attending concerts is also permitted. Social distancing is no longer required, but the Super Green Pass is required.
We're back at restaurants, with no table limits. Above all, after many months of closure, nightclubs and dance halls are also organizing New Year's Eve 2021 parties. Although capacity in these venues is limited, it's once again possible to dance until dawn. Finally, for theater lovers, maximum capacity is now permitted. So, we can plan to spend December 31st enjoying a wonderful theater program. But there are also those who prefer to celebrate in the mountains on the snow. January 1st can be spent at open facilities ready to welcome all snow and ski lovers. This also means we're filling up our hotels again. In fact, on the 31st, dinners and New Year's Eve parties are permitted in common areas. Cruises have also resumed sailing, and we can finally celebrate on board again.
A little superstition doesn't hurt
What to do on New Year's Eve? We'll certainly be ready to preserve good luck and fortune for the coming year. First of all, lentils are needed. They are the quintessential lucky food on the night of December 31st. In fact, thanks to their round, flattened shape, they closely resemble coins. According to tradition, each coin represents a penny. Therefore, the more lentils we eat, the more money will arrive. They are usually accompanied by zampone or cotechino. Also according to tradition, lentils should be eaten at the stroke of midnight. Serving lentils alongside a slice of cotechino recalls another tradition. Cotechino is pork. Piggy banks are always shaped like a pig. On the other hand, the pig searches for food with its nose stuck out. In this case, it symbolizes progress, and its meat is a symbol of good luck. It brings gain and satiety.
This is why pork should absolutely not be missing from the New Year's table. Especially during this period, we eat it cotechino, but also roasts and other pork dishes. In fact, the most important thing is to eat its meat. But superstition isn't limited to the table. Typically, the most superstitious people always wear red underwear on New Year's Eve. This is a tradition that requires items such as boxers for men and panties for women to always be red on New Year's Eve. Furthermore, according to tradition, underwear must be a gift and thrown away the next day. In fact, the color red indicates prosperity, drives away negative forces, and represents blood, vital energy. Finally, red underwear is also a symbol of long life and the joys of love.
