We know that food is an integral part of any celebration in Italy.  The New Year is no exception, with special feasts and dishes that have special symbolic meaning. Known as La Festa di San Silvestro, the celebration begins on December 31st as it does in most other parts of the world.

Cotechino (a type of pork) and lentils are the customary New Year’s Day meal in Italy. The lentils symbolize wealth, and pork symbolizes richness of life for the coming year. Spumante, Prosecco, or other sparkling Italian wine is enjoyed while fireworks explode in the sky. It is not uncommon to stay up until sunrise to watch the first sunrise of the New Year. Wearing red underwear is customary and is said to bring good.

Be careful if you venture down the streets of Italy on New Year’s Eve, there are so many fireworks going off that you will think a war may have begun. It is best to gaze outside your window for you will view some of the most beautiful firework displays in any little piazza (square) in Italy. Once many Italians throw out their old possessions to show the universe that they’re ready for the new things that the New Year will bring into their lives and as you walked down the street furniture and old household items would be strewn onto the street, but this tradition (thank goodness) has all but disappeared.

Try this fabulous Spumante in Rosa cocktail and enjoy an Italian style new year!

Ingredients

• *1/3 cup sweet vermouth
• *1/3 cup brandy
• *1 sliced, peeled kiwi
• *2 oranges sliced
• *1 lemon sliced
• *1 bottle of rose wine
• *1 bottle of Spumante
• *8 fresh mint leaves
• *Crushed ice

Preparation

In a punch bowl, place in vermouth,brandy, kiwi, orange & lemon slices. Stir. Right before serving pour in rose wine and spumante and some crushed ice. Serve in tall glasses wit h fresh mint leaves, and fresh fruti slices.