Firework displays are a major part of New Year celebrations in Sorrento |
A
local tradition is the lighting of the ciuccio di fuoco, a donkey made
of fabric stuffed with fireworks. The donkey represents the old year and it is
set on fire at midnight to ignite the fireworks. It symbolises burning and
obliterating bad memories from the year before.
At midnight the streets are full of people exchanging good wishes, toasting the New Year, and enjoying the festive atmosphere in a magical city that is full of lights and colours.
Il Presidente della Repubblica will have delivered his Messaggio di Fine Anno from the Quirinale in Rome, shown on most Italian television channels. This is followed on Rai Uno by L’Anno Che VerrĂ , a live programme of pop and entertainment transmitted from a square in a beautiful town in Italy to see in the New Year.
New Year’s Eve is known as la Festa di San Silvestro in Italy and is a time when families and friends traditionally get together for a special dinner.
There
are midnight fireworks displays in many cities as well as at private parties. A
custom still followed in some parts of Italy is throwing old things out of the
window to symbolise readiness to accept the New Year.
Buon Anno from Best of Sorrento!