New Year's Celebrations with an Italian Flair

As the New Year is approaching, many families across the United States will begin to wrap up the Christmas events only to begin planning the events of the New Year's Eve celebration. This year, when preparing for a New Year's Eve event, consider throwing a party based on the traditions of Italy.

Italy, rich in culture and tradition, provides for an interesting and unique party opportunity for New Year's Eve as well as New Year's Day. As a themed event, one with such Italian tradition involves the use of color to enhance good will and blessing into the new year. Colors of brilliance are believed to be found in the pyrotechnic product called petards. With petards, or any fireworks, Italian tradition believes the lighting of the brilliant firework displays will ward off evil spirits as the new year approaches. As a holiday theme, using sparklers or any small firework, outdoors, will provide for an interesting Italian flair to your New Year's Even celebration.

In addition to colors and fireworks, New Year's Eve parties, with an Italian theme, commonly include the eating of traditional Italian foods such as lentil beans, pork rib and even sweet bread or pastry. To follow Italian tradition, these foods are offered after the midnight hour, on New Year's Day, to symbolize and begin the welcoming of prosperous and improved conditions for the New Year.

For a religous based element to your New Year's Eve celebration, with an Italian flair, considering burning a yule log in a fireplace, continously, until the midnight hour. Under Italian tradition, with a religious theme, this New Year's tradition is built on the believe that the yule log represents the burning of evil spirits and is often representative of the nativity scene in which some Catholic believers feel the Virgin Mary is welcomed into the home in spirit.

For entertainment at the Italian themed New Year's party, planning Italian oriented games such as Bingo will provide for an interesting twist to the holiday events. Bingo, with its right history and origin in Italy, when played Italian style, does not use the typical number place cards. Instead, use true Italian themed Bingo cards with variety of photos including scantly dressed women, animals, food and even Saints.

Whatever the plans for your New Year's celebration, providing a unique twist to the holiday event will make for an interesting and memorable tradition for guests of all ages. This holiday season, whether planning a large New Year's Eve party or simply spending an evening at home with a few guests, consider incorporating the traditions of Italy into your holiday plans.

For more information regarding New Year's Eve celebration planning, visit www.topics-mag.com.