Everybody likes to start the new year off on the right foot. Whether out of superstition or tradition, many cultures attach good luck to foods they eat on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day. Here are some of the most common.
Legumes - Eating beans, peas and lentils is said to bring wealth because they resemble coins, and because they swell when cooked, symbolizing expanding economic fortune. Black-eyed peas are among the most popular choices.
Greens - The leaves of cabbage, collards, mustard greens, and kale (to name a few) resemble paper money and are eaten for financial luck.
Pigs - Pigs are a sign of good luck in many cultures, because they root forward when looking for food and therefore symbolize progressive movement. If you don't want to serve pork, you can incorporate pig-shaped cookies or marzipan pigs, popular in Germany and Austria.
Grapes - This Spanish tradition calls for eating 12 grapes, one at each stroke of the clock at midnight. A sour grape indicates potential troubles in the corresponding month of the new year.
Long noodles - Cook up some stir-fry with long noodles, which represent a long life. Just be sure not to break or cut the noodles!
Pomegranates - The fruit's many seeds signify fertility and abundance, while its red color represents life (the heart) and health.
Round shapes - Many New Year's cakes and baked goods are round or ring-shaped, as a symbol for unity, continuity, and the year coming full circle.
Comments(17)