Cenone di Capodanno is the traditional Italian New Year’s Eve midnight feast, often featuring lentils for prosperity.
The Italian word cenone means “big dinner,” while Capodanno means New Year’s Day. In common usage, cenone di Capodanno refers to the elaborate meal eaten on New Year’s Eve, often extending toward midnight and continuing after the new year begins. Menus vary by region and family.
Lentils are especially associated with the meal because their small, round shape resembles coins. Eating them is therefore linked symbolically with hopes for financial prosperity in the coming year. Cotechino, a cooked pork sausage, is a common accompaniment in northern and central Italian traditions; zampone, a stuffed pig’s trotter, is another classic option.
The meal should not be confused with La Befana, the January 6 figure associated with Epiphany, or Ferragosto, the August holiday. Italian New Year customs also include fireworks, public concerts, and the wearing of red garments, but the cenone specifically means the celebratory feast.