At New Year's Eve celebrations in Italy, red clothing traditionally symbolizes luck and prosperity.
The custom is especially associated with wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve. Red is linked with love, vitality, fertility, and good fortune, so the tradition is treated as a cheerful way to invite positive outcomes in the coming year. In some versions of the custom, the garment should be new or received as a gift.
The practice has older symbolic associations but is also shaped by modern popular culture and commercial holiday traditions. It is not a formal religious requirement, and Italian customs differ by region, family, and individual preference.
New Year's Eve in Italy is often marked by a festive dinner, sparkling wine, fireworks, and the midnight exchange of good wishes. Lentils are also commonly associated with prosperity because their round shape resembles coins. The red-clothing custom and the lentil tradition are separate symbols that may appear at the same celebration.