Happy New Year!!
I was getting ready to put together my shopping list for my traditional New Year’s Eve dinner when I got to wondering what do other parts of the United States, or other countries for that matter, do for New Year’s Eve dinner. I was surprised by the variety of things that people eat to increase their good fortune in the New Year. So, I thought I’d share what I’ve uncovered while researching this interesting topic with you.
First off there seems to be a common theme in types of food that most cultures eat:
- Pork – the general consensus is that because a pig roots for food with its snout by digging in a forward direction then eating pork will help you to move forward in the New Year. Also many cultures associate pigs with plumpness and getting plenty to eat.
- Fish - many people feel that the Catholic Church’s policy against red meat consumption on religious holidays helped make fish commonplace at feasts. It could also be because fish swim forward and it is good luck to move forward for the New Year.
- Greens – this one is pretty easy as our money is green, so you eat greens so you can get more greenbacks! Also, greens like collards, kale, and chard have folded leaves which look like folded money.
- Legumes – many people feel that legumes such as peas (black-eyed peas in the southern United States) and lentils look like coins. When soaked in water they swell and thus people eat them in the hope that their financial fortunes will swell in the New Year.
- Grapes – apparently this tradition dates back to some time in the early 1900’s in Spain when grape growers were trying to resolve a grape surplus. The idea spread and now many cultures eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight to celebrate lucky years past and in hope of a lucky year to come.
Let’s take a look at some traditional meals from around the world:
- Austrians – often decorate their dinner table with miniature pigs made of marzipan.
- Brazil - the first meal of the New Year is usually lentil soup or lentils and rice.
- Denmark – Boiled cod is the food of choice at New Year’s.
- Germany – Eating herring at midnight is said to bring good luck. Pork is also thought to bring good luck.
- Greece – Vasilopita, a cake with a coin inside of it, is eaten. The person who gets the coin is said to have good luck throughout the coming year.
- Holland – Ollie Bollen, a doughnut-like fritter, is popular at the holiday.
- Italy – “Otechino con lenticchie” (pork sausage served over lentils) is served. The pork is said to bring abundance while the lentils bring money.
- Japan – Noodles are eaten at midnight in Buddhist temples. In addition, soba noodles are eaten by the general public for a long life, and Omochi cakes (sticky rice cakes) are eaten for good luck and health.
- Mexico – Most people eat twelve grapes at midnight for good luck.
- Phillipines – It’s important to have food on the table at midnight in order to ensure plenty food in the New Year.
- Poland – Pickled herring as the first thing on New Year’s is said to bring good luck throughout the year.
- Spain – Twelve grapes are eaten, one each at the stroke of midnight, to celebrate lucky years of the past and in the hope of a lucky year to come.
- Vietnam – Tet Nguyen Dan or Tet is the Vietnamese New Year. It falls in either January or February for three days, though it is often celebrated for seven. Watermelon is often eaten – the redder the flesh, the more luck the family will have in the New Year.
I’m from the southern part of the United States and I follow the southern tradition of ham, black-eyed peas, greens, and corn bread (said to bring wealth).
What do you do for the New Year?
