New Year's Day in Italy

A national public holiday

Italy’s State Ceremonial Department lists January 1 as Capodanno among the holidays established by law.[1] The Ministry of Labour also includes the date in its list of paid public holidays. For employees who work on a holiday, the ministry’s guidance provides for additional holiday-work compensation; the specific terms depend on the applicable employment rules.[2]

The holiday is fixed on January 1. The official calendar and employment guidance cited here do not set out a general substitute date when it falls on a Sunday, so workers should check the rules that apply to their employment.[1][2]

Roman roots and Catholic observance

January 1 has a long history in Rome. Treccani says the Romans fixed the start of the year on that date in 191 BCE, and connects the month of January with Janus, the two-faced god associated with looking back and ahead.[3]

For Catholics, January 1 is also the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. The Vatican’s records connect the day with the World Day of Peace, which Pope Paul VI established for January 1 beginning in 1968.[6] These religious observances give the date a place in Italy’s Catholic calendar as well as its civil one.[6]

Welcoming the year with food and good-luck customs

Many Italian New Year customs focus on hopes for prosperity in the year ahead. Lentils are associated with wealth because their shape recalls coins; a tradition described by Treccani links them to the Roman practice of giving lentils as a wish for future riches.[3][4]

Cotechino and zampone, pork sausages associated with northern Italy, are now eaten in many parts of the country during the festive season. Italy’s national tourism site describes them served with lentils, which families may eat at midnight or as a side dish.[4]

Some customs are more local. The tourism site describes eating twelve grapes at midnight in Naples and other southern areas, a tradition it traces to Spanish influence. It also notes that wearing red and making noise with fireworks are associated with New Year celebrations, though fireworks are prohibited in many Italian cities.[4]

What to expect on the day

Public and private offices close on national holidays, and most business activity stops, according to Italy’s tourism guidance. Bars, pastry shops, ice-cream shops and restaurants often remain open, but individual opening times can vary.[5]

Cultural sites do not all follow the same schedule: some museums and heritage sites close on holidays. Check the official listing for a museum or site before visiting, and confirm opening hours directly with any business you plan to use.[5]