Red is the Italian New Year’s Eve clothing color traditionally associated with luck and prosperity.
In Italy, wearing red underwear or another red garment around New Year’s Eve is a popular good-luck custom. Red is linked with vitality, love and positive fortune, and the tradition is often presented as a way to invite prosperity in the coming year. Some versions say the garment should be new or received as a gift, although details vary by family and region.
The custom is one part of a broader set of Italian New Year traditions. Lentils are commonly eaten because their round shape resembles coins, making them a symbol of wealth. Cotechino, a seasoned pork sausage, is often served with them. These practices are cultural customs rather than universal rules, and not every Italian household observes them. The red-clothing tradition is also found in other countries, so it should not be treated as uniquely Italian.