Wednesday, December 26, 2007

Italian "New Year's Eve" - Out with the Old

The ANNOTICO Report

Italy: Flying Crockery

For Italians the night of “Saint Sylvester” - the 31st of December - is definitely an all-nighter.

The saying goes that those who sleep on New Year’s Eve will sleep all year round - not an auspicious start to the year. To avoid a year of boredom, Italians make sure the party lasts all night with the champagne and beer flowing freely.

In Naples, tradition states that old clothes, furniture and crockery should be disposed of at the end of the year - by being thrown out of windows.

Festivities continue the next day  "Capodanno  " New Years Day.

The bravest residents of Rome launch themselves from the Cavour bridge into the icy waters of the Tiber. Those a bit more sensitive to the cold prefer a relaxed lunch of Modena’s famous dish zampone  - stuffed pig’s trotter and lentils - a favourite at New Year.

One of the Top Ten European locations for when the clock strikes midnight

Rome : in Piazza Navona, OR  in front of the Trevi Fountain


http://www.cafebabel.com/en/article.asp?T=T&Id=13335

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