New Year’s Eve, in Italy, Spain, France
Comments: 0 - Date: November 3rd, 2007 - Categories: General
Capodanno:
The New Year’s Eve in Italy is called “Capodanno” or “Notte di San Silvestro” San Silvester Nighr. There is a party in every Italian city, and there are concerts in the biggest ones Milano, Roma, Torino, Napoli, Palermo, Verona, Venezia and Firenze.
Italian families usually make a very big dinner, called “Cenone”, at home or in restaurants. Young people usually like expencive discos and villa-parties as you can see from this “capodanno 2008” website (in Italian). The “Capodanno Roma 2008” and “Capodanno Milano 2008” concerts are loved by who doesn’t want to spend 130€ in a disco, they are big and free.
Nochevieja (or Fin de Año):
Spanish New Year’s Eve celebrations usually begin with a family dinner, traditionally including shrimp and lamb or turkey. Spanish people believe that wearing red underwear on New Year’s Eve brings good luck. The actual countdown is primarily followed from the clock on top of the Casa de Correos building in Puerta del Sol square in Madrid. It is traditional to eat twelve grapes, one on each chime of the clock. This tradition has its origins in 1909, when grape growers in Alicante thought of it as a way to cut down on the large production surplus they had had that year. Nowadays, the tradition is followed by almost every Spaniard, and the twelve grapes have become synonymous with the New Year. After the clock has finished striking twelve, people greet each other and toast with sparkling wine such as cava or champagne, or alternatively with cider.
After the family dinner and the grapes, many young people attend New Year parties at pubs, discotheques and similar places (these parties are called cotillones de nochevieja, after the Spanish word cotillón, which refers to party supplies like confetti, party blowers, party hats, etc.). Parties usually last until the next morning and range from small, personal celebrations at local bars to huge parties with guests numbering the thousands at hotel convention rooms. Early next morning, party attendees usually gather to have the traditional winter breakfast of ‘‘chocolate con churros’’ (hot chocolate and fried pastry).
Saint-Sylvestre:
The French call New Year’s Eve la Saint-Sylvestre. It is usually celebrated with a feast called le Réveillon de la Saint-Sylvestre. This feast customarily includes special dishes and drinks like champagne and foie gras. The celebration can be a simple, intimate dinner with friends and family or a much fancier ball (une soirée dansante).
On le Jour de l’An (New Year’s Day), friends and family exchange New Year’s resolutions and sometimes gifts.
The holiday period ends on January 6 for the Epiphany. On this day, they traditionally enjoy a type of cake that varies depending on where you are in France.