Christmas in Italy: New Year
Christmas in Italy: Christmas Markets
Christmas in Italy: Pre-Christmas Celebrations and Observances
Christmas in Italy: Nativity Scenes and Ceppos
Christmas in Italy: Christmas Eve
Christmas in Italy: Christmas Day
Italian folklore teaches that the first person one encounters after midnight on New Year’s Eve determines one’s luck for the year to come (see also firstfooting). The luckiest person to encounter is a young, healthy man. Meeting a priest means you will attend a funeral, perhaps your own, whereas meeting a child means you may die young. If the first person you encounter is a woman, you will have bad luck in the coming year.