Grapes, fish, green vegetables, pork, pomegranates… are chosen by several countries as traditional New Year’s dishes, with hopes for a prosperous, healthy, and lucky year ahead.
Grapes: Spaniards eat 12 grapes as the clock strikes midnight. This tradition originated in 1909 when grape growers in Alicante started this practice to deal with surplus grapes. The idea then spread to Portugal and regions that were once Spanish and Portuguese colonies, such as Venezuela, Cuba, Mexico, Ecuador, and Peru. (Photo: Popsugar.)
Each grape symbolizes a month; for example, if the third grape is a bit sour, it means March will be quite challenging. Most people try to eat all 12 grapes before the final bell, but Peruvians will add a 13th grape to ensure good luck. (Photo: Beepb.)
Greens: Greens like cabbage, collard greens, kale, and rainbow chard are commonly eaten during the New Year in many countries, as their leaves resemble folded money, symbolizing a prosperous future. (Photo: Rd.)
Danes eat stewed kale with sugar and cinnamon, Germans eat cabbage, while Americans prefer collard greens. Many believe that the more greens consumed during the New Year, the more wealth will be gained in the following year. (Photo: Seriouseats.)
Legumes: Peas, lentils, green beans… are all considered symbols of money. They resemble coins and expand when cooked, bringing financial luck to those who consume them. (Photo: Amazinghealthfulfoods).
In Italy, people often enjoy sausages and green lentils after midnight. Germans also typically eat this dish on New Year’s, possibly substituting lentils with pea soup. (Photo: Plated.)
Brazilians often enjoy their first meal of the new year with lentil soup or lentils and rice. (Photo: Greenacres.)
Hoppin’ John, Southern USA: A significant culinary tradition as New Year’s arrives in the Southern United States is Hoppin’ John – a dish made from black-eyed peas or cowpeas (symbolizing coins) served with pork and rice, often accompanied by collard greens or other cooked greens (as they are green like money) and cornbread (which is yellow). This dish is believed to bring good luck in the New Year. The recipe for Hoppin’ John first appeared in 1847 in Sarah Rutledge’s book, The Carolina Housewoman, and has been used for centuries. (Photo: Foodnetwork).
<img title="The tradition of eating pork on New Year's is based on the belief that pigs symbolize progress, as they tend to move forward while foraging. Suckling pig is a must-have dish for New Year's celebrations in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria.” alt=”The tradition of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the belief that pigs symbolize progress, as they tend to move forward while foraging. Suckling pig is a must-have dish for New Year’s celebrations in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria.” width=”760″ height=”507″ class=”lazy” src=”https://e.khoahoc.tv/photos/image/2015/12/30/tet-an-gi-9.jpg”>
Pork: The tradition of eating pork on New Year’s is based on the belief that pigs symbolize progress, as they tend to move forward while foraging. Suckling pig is a must-have dish for New Year’s celebrations in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria. (Photo: Faimouioui/Wordpress).
Austrians decorate their tables with almond cakes shaped like little pigs. (Photo: Butteryum.)
Swedes eat ham, while Germans enjoy roasted pork and sausages. Pork is also commonly found in Italy and the USA as it is rich in fat, symbolizing wealth and prosperity. (Photo: Chopstixfix).
Fish: This dish is believed to bring good luck for three reasons: its scales resemble coins, they swim in schools – symbolizing prosperity, and they swim forward – symbolizing progress. (Photo: Catholiccusine.)
Danes eat steamed cod, while in Italy, families prepare dried salted cod from Christmas to New Year. Germans and Poles enjoy pickled herring for good luck. (Photo: Nytimes.)
Cakes: Cakes and other baked goods are commonly featured on the menus of many countries during Christmas and New Year, particularly those shaped like circles or rings. Italy has chiacchiere made from fried dough dusted with sugar. (Image: Theitalianbunnyreport/Wordpress).
Donuts: Poland, Hungary, and the Netherlands often enjoy donuts. Additionally, the Netherlands has olie bollen, a type of round pastry filled with apples, raisins, or sour cherries. (Image: Oliebollenzoetermeer).
Some cultures have the tradition of hiding a piece of jewelry or coin in a cake, and whoever finds it will have good luck in the new year. In Greece, people often make vasilopita with a coin inside. The cake is cut on New Year’s Eve or served as dessert on New Year’s Day. (Image: Tarasmulticulturaltable).
Pomegranate: The Turkish regard pomegranates as a fruit that brings good luck for many reasons. Their red color symbolizes life and fertility. Their healing properties symbolize health, and the round seeds represent prosperity. (Image: Aces).
Osechi ryori: Japanese New Year’s dishes are collectively known as Osechi ryori, which signify that families can live well through the early days of the new year when all stores are closed. Osechi ryori consists of dishes made from black beans, fish, and seafood—common cooking ingredients in Japan. According to Japanese belief, black beans, fish, and seafood help them be more energetic and have clearer minds for effective work. Besides these dishes, there are many kinds of sauces made from beans for dipping various cakes, rolls, and grilled fish. The food to accompany the sauces includes cakes and noodles made from rice. All of the New Year’s dishes are usually preserved in beautifully lacquered red wooden boxes. The Japanese believe that the more beautiful the food packaging, the greater the hope for abundance in the new year.
Antarctica: Unlike other continents, Antarctica is home only to glaciers, snow-capped mountains, penguins, and scientists. These scientists will hold a New Year’s concert called Icestock at the U.S. McMurdo research station and enjoy spicy soups along with hot coffee or hot chocolate to help warm their bodies. (Illustrative image)
Australia: People in Australian countries often favor grilled meat and seafood during major holidays such as Christmas or New Year. Additionally, Australians cannot do without toast with avocado every morning. This humble breakfast dish originated in the United States but has become an essential breakfast for the people of this continent since the 1990s.
Africa: Nigerians view lentils as a symbol of coins, and therefore these beans appear in many New Year’s dishes, while they avoid poultry as it is believed to negatively affect the family’s finances. Ugandans dedicate a special dish for the New Year’s breakfast, featuring a sumptuous breakfast table with dishes made from Matooke bananas (East African highland bananas), a type of green banana considered a staple food in some African countries and a valuable export for Uganda.
Herring is abundant in Poland and some regions of Scandinavia, and because of their silver color, many people in these countries eat pickled herring at midnight to bring a prosperous and bountiful year. Some eat pickled herring in cream sauce or with onions. A special way of preparing herring for New Year’s Eve in Poland, known as Sledzie Marynowane, involves soaking whole pickled herring in water for 24 hours and then packing them in jars with onions, pepper, sugar, and white vinegar. Scandinavians often enjoy herring at a midnight party with pickled smoked fish, pâté, and meatballs. (Image: The Spruce Eats).
Tamales, Mexico: This dish made from corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese, and various spices, wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks, appears at most special occasions in Mexico. In many families, groups of women gather to make hundreds of small tamale packages to give to friends, family, and neighbors. On New Year’s Day, it is often served with menudo, a famous beef tripe and hominy soup for those recovering from a hangover. Residents in cities with large Mexican populations will have no trouble finding restaurants selling tamales to enjoy on New Year’s Eve and Day. In Mexico City, steamed tamales are sold by street vendors on every corner day and night. (Image: Food.com).
