In Italy, red clothing is traditionally worn on New Year's Eve to symbolize good fortune.
The custom is especially associated with red underwear, although other red garments and accessories may also be used. Red is widely connected with vitality, love, celebration, and protection from bad luck, making it a popular color for welcoming the new year.
The tradition is often described as requiring the item to be new, and some versions say it should be received as a gift. These details are matters of popular custom rather than a single national rule, so practices differ between families and regions.
Italian New Year's Eve celebrations also commonly include a festive meal and midnight toasts. Older accounts mention lentils as a dish associated with prosperity because their shape resembles coins. The red-clothing custom should not be confused with the use of red in other cultures, where the same color can carry different New Year's meanings.