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New Year's Eve dinner
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| A sort of magical ritual, New Year's Eve dinner is imbued with a great deal of symbolic meanings, traditions that have been handed down since time immemorial, creating a very special, evocative atmosphere. |
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If the dishes featured for Christmas dinner in Italy vary from region to region, when it comes to the menu for New Year's Eve there is much greater consensus. There are a number of practices and elements that can be found from North to South. First and foremost, the color red: the symbol of life and prosperity and, therefore, the lucky color par excellence. It is frequently used for small table decorations such as place markers and napkin holders, which may be simply fashioned from red satin ribbon. But remember not to go overboard; a red tablecloth, for example, risks setting up an unpleasant contrast with the colors of the food. It's generally best to stick to warm, neutral tones like ivory and cream when it comes to the tablecloth and napkins, saving the fireworks, so to speak, for the centerpiece, where lucky red can be accompanied by sophisticated highlights of gold or silver.
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CANDLES FOR A BRIGHT FUTURE |
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Along with the fireworks that light up the night sky as the New Year is ushered in, no self-respecting New Year's Eve dinner would be complete without the enchantment of candlelight. Be sure to use genuine beeswax varieties, preferably in a neutral tone that will complement the table setting. As for the candlesticks, nothing beats classic silver or even transparent glass, both of which add sparkle and discreet elegance to any table. Another luminous manifestation of the rich body of lore and symbolism surrounding this festive time of year, the traditional Yule log is still burnt in many parts of Italy from Christmas to Epiphany, twelve nights that have long symbolized the twelve months of the year.
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GRAPES AND LENTILS TO ENSURE PROSPERITY |
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Legend has it that grapes (or sultana raisins) and lentils will ensure prosperity. In regard to the former, there's a saying in Italy that goes something like this: "eat grapes on New Year's Day and you'll be counting money the rest of the year", whereas the disk-like shape of the latter, which throughout the length and breadth of the peninsula is enjoyed accompanied by boiled zampone or cotechino sausage, understandably qualifies this legume as a perfect symbol for vast stores of precious coins. At the end of the meal, along with the grapes or raisins and nuts, you can offer your guests a pomegranate (or a dessert adorned with its ruby-red seeds), a fruit that has long been associated with fertility and abundance, in general. And finally, don't forget to embellish your table decorations with that good luck charm, a sprig of mistletoe, whose milky white berries are supposed to be able to ward off evil and misfortune.
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