Red Briefs – The New Year's Tradition Explained

Short answer: Red briefs at New Year are a tradition that comes from Italy and Spain among other places, where red underwear on New Year's Eve is said to bring luck and love in the year ahead. The tradition has spread, and a red pair has become an easy way to mark the evening.

Where the tradition comes from

In Italy and Spain, red underwear has long been worn on New Year's Eve as a symbol of luck, love and good times in the new year. In some places the tradition even says the underwear should be new, and preferably a gift. That sort of thing is taken with a smile, but it is a pleasant occasion.

Why red in particular

Red is the colour of luck, warmth and life in many cultures, and it is therefore worn at New Year and at weddings in several parts of the world. There is no documented effect, and that is not the point either. The tradition lasts because it is easy to join in with and fun.

A red pair is practical too

A pair in a strong colour has the advantage that it does not disappear in the drawer among the black ones, and that you know exactly when you last wore it. In return it is not a pair for pale trousers, so it belongs among the items used for particular occasions.

How to keep the colour

Strong reds release colour in the first few washes. Wash a new red pair on its own the first time, and after that with other dark items. Wash at 30 degrees inside out and skip the tumble dryer, because heat pulls colour out of strong shades faster than out of dark ones.

Choose a model you will actually wear

A tradition only lasts if the pair is comfortable. Choose the model you wear every day, just in red, rather than a model you would never otherwise pick. See the range of bamboo briefs and find the fit you already know from your other pairs.

Bamboo viscose on a long evening

New Year's Eve is long, often warm indoors and means many hours in the same clothes. Bamboo viscose moves moisture away from the skin and softens with wear, and that is exactly what is needed on an evening when you do not change halfway through.

As a small gift

In several places the tradition says the pair should be a gift, which makes it an easy and inexpensive gesture in December. See Christmas gifts for her if it is to be wrapped, and bamboo underwear for women for the rest of the range.

What happens to the pair afterwards

Most people wear the red pair again during the year, and there is no reason not to. Wash it like everything else dark and put it back in the drawer. Once bought, it is a pair of underwear and not only a tradition.