In 2024, celebrate the New Year with your loved ones and some delicious dishes. As you plan your menu, why not try some of these New Year’s foods that are believed to bring good fortune?
Different cultures have different food traditions and superstitions for the holiday season, and many of them involve food as a symbol of luck, prosperity, or health. Here are some of the New Year’s food customs and beliefs from around the world, and some of our favorite recipes that feature these lucky ingredients.
New Year’s Eve will be on Sunday, December 31, 2023, followed by New Year’s Day on Monday, January 1, 2024. We wish you a happy and healthy new year!
Lentils – prosperity
Lentils are a staple food in many cultures, and they are also associated with wealth and abundance. Their round shape resembles coins, and their green color symbolizes money. Eating lentils on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you financial luck and prosperity in the new year.
Pork and Greens – luck and happiness
Speaking of green, leafy greens like kale, spinach, cabbage, and collard greens are also considered lucky foods for the new year. They symbolize wealth, health, and growth, as well as a fresh start. Cook them with some garlic, onion, and bacon for a flavorful and fortunate dish.
Pork is another food that represents prosperity and abundance, as pigs are known to be fat and fertile animals. Eating pork on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and happiness in the new year. You can choose any cut of pork you like, from ham to ribs to roast, as long as it’s tender and juicy.
Fish – abundance
Fish is a symbol of fertility, abundance, and longevity in many cultures, and it’s also a healthy and delicious choice for your New Year’s menu. Eating fish on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and success in the new year. You can opt for any kind of fish you like, from salmon to cod to trout, as long as it’s fresh and cooked well.
Noodles – luck and money
Noodles are a staple food in many Asian countries, and they are also a lucky food for the new year. Eating long noodles on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you longevity and happiness in the new year. You should avoid cutting or breaking the noodles, as that would signify cutting your life short. You can enjoy noodles in soups, stir-fries, or salads, with any sauce or seasoning you like.
Cake – fortune
Cake is a sweet treat that everyone loves, and it’s also a lucky food for the new year. Eating cake on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you sweetness and joy in the new year. You can choose any kind of cake you like, from chocolate to vanilla to fruit, as long as it’s moist and fluffy. Some cakes have special meanings, such as ring-shaped cakes that symbolize completeness or cakes with hidden coins or charms that signify fortune.
Pomegranate – fertility
Pomegranate is a fruit that has many seeds inside, which represent fertility, abundance, and prosperity. Eating pomegranate on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and wealth in the new year. You can eat the seeds raw or sprinkle them on salads, desserts, or drinks for a burst of flavor and color.
Cornbread – money
Cornbread is a bread that is made with cornmeal, which gives it a yellow color that resembles gold. Eating cornbread on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and money in the new year. You can make cornbread with butter, honey, cheese, or jalapeños for a savory or sweet twist.
Black-eyed peas – good luck
Black-eyed peas are legumes that have a black spot on them, which looks like an eye. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and protection in the new year. You can cook black-eyed peas with ham hocks, onions, garlic, and spices for a hearty and flavorful dish.
Oranges – hope and prosperity
Oranges are citrus fruits that have a bright orange color that resembles the sun. Eating oranges on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and energy in the new year. You can eat oranges fresh or squeeze them into juice for a refreshing drink.
Champagne – happiness
Champagne is a sparkling wine that is often used to toast and celebrate special occasions. Drinking champagne on New Year’s Eve or Day is said to bring you good luck and happiness in the new year. You can drink champagne plain or mix it with orange juice for a mimosa or with cranberry juice for a kir royale.
What NOT To Eat On New Year’s Day 2024
Some foods are believed to bring good fortune in the new year, but others may have the opposite effect. Here are some foods that you should avoid eating on New Year’s Eve or Day, according to various traditions and superstitions:
- Seafood that moves sideways or backwards, such as crab, shrimp, and lobster. This may symbolize a lack of progress or a reversal of fortune.
- Fish that live on the bottom of the sea, such as catfish and halibut. This may indicate a low or poor status in life.
- Poultry that scratches the ground backwards, such as chicken and turkey. This may suggest dwelling on the past or losing what you have gained.
- Bread that has a large hole in the middle. This may signify emptiness or misfortune.
- White foods that are associated with death in some cultures, such as eggs, rice, and white cheeses. This may imply mourning or bad luck.
New Year’s Eve Culinary Superstitions Around the World
New Year’s Eve is a time to celebrate and enjoy various culinary traditions around the world. Some of these traditions are based on superstitions that promise good luck, wealth or love for the next year. For example, in Greece, people bake a cake with a silver or gold coin inside and whoever finds it will have a fortunate year.
Another tradition that involves food and luck is the Spanish one of eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the next year. This is also a chance for brides to put their wedding ring in their champagne glass and toast with their loved ones.
In Portugal, instead of grapes, people eat 12 figs at the end of the year, each one representing a wish for the new year. Figs are also a symbol of fertility and prosperity in some cultures.
In Belgium, people enjoy a hearty meal of choucroute, which is a type of sauerkraut with sausages, on January 1st. They also keep a coin under their plate, in their hand or in their pocket, hoping to have money throughout the year.
Finally, in Italy, people prepare special dishes for New Year’s Eve that are supposed to bring abundance and wealth. Some of these dishes are lentils, which resemble coins, and pork, which signifies richness and fatness.
My name is Master Chen and I have been practicing Chinese astrology and feng shui for more than two decades. This is an ancient art that I have mastered over the years.
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