Red clothing is associated with love, prosperity, and good fortune in Italy's New Year's Eve tradition.
People may wear red garments or red underwear during the celebrations. The custom is often connected with ideas of vitality, passion, and protection from bad luck, and it is commonly presented as a way to welcome positive energy into the coming year. The precise practice varies by region, family, and generation.
Italian New Year's Eve meals also carry symbolic meanings. Lentils are commonly served because their coin-like shape suggests wealth and abundance. Cotechino, a traditional pork sausage, is another well-known festive food, and grapes or dried fruit may appear in some regional customs.
The color tradition is cultural rather than a religious requirement, and not every Italian follows it. It should also be distinguished from the red decorations used in several other New Year celebrations worldwide, where the color can have different historical meanings.