Lucky Foods to Ring in the New Year

Throughout history, people have consumed "lucky" foods to ring in the New Year. Some of the most common good luck foods include black eyed peas, grapes, pork, fish, and prosperity cakes. But, how did these traditions begin and do they really help attract good luck?

According to FoodTimeline.org, "People have eaten certain foods on New Year's Day, hoping to gain riches, love, or other kinds of good fortune during the rest of the year." Food Timeline claims pigs became the chosen "lucky" food within the U.S. as German, Swedes, and Austrian settlers brought this tradition with them. The pig is considered auspicious due to its plumpness and abundance of meat.

The American Heritage Cookbook and Illustrated History of American Eating and Drinking claims that U.S. New Year's celebrations began during the Colonial-era where people held informal social gatherings and served various types of foods. Some of the more common foods included rum-soaked doughnuts, honey cakes, and cherry bounce; a liqueur made from cherries and sugar steeped in rum, whiskey or brandy.

Black-Eyed Peas and Hoppin' John

In the South, the tradition of eating Hoppin' John, a dish consisting of black eyed peas with rice is believed to have originated in West Africa. The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink by John F. Mariani shares two theories on how Hoppin' John became a New Year's Day ritual.

The first is the custom of "inviting guests to eat with the request to "hop in, John", while the other states a New Year ritual of children "hopping once around the table before eating the dish."

According to legend, black-eyed peas are symbolic of coins and eating the coins symbolizes gaining wealth. The tradition of adding ham to black-eyed peas is believed to add additional money luck because pigs are considered auspicious. Adding collard greens can further expand money-luck in the New Year because greens are symbolic of folding money.

Let Them Eat Grapes

Eating grapes at the stroke of midnight is a New Year's tradition that dates back to the early 1900s and originated in Spain. Epicurious.com states, "New Year's revelers in Spain consume twelve grapes at midnight-one grape for each stroke of the clock."

Epicurious also claims, "Each grape represents a different month, so if, for instance, the third grape is a bit sour, March might be a rocky month." The grape-eating tradition requires consuming the last grape before the stroke of midnight. Some cultures add one extra grape for "good measure."

Good Luck Fish

It is believed that eating fish that swim upstream can attract prosperity in the New Year. In the book, Cod: A Biography of the Fish that Changed the World by Mark Kurlansky, it is revealed that "cod has been a popular feast food since the Middle Ages."

This tradition is believed to have stemmed from the Catholic Church prohibiting consumption of red meat during the holidays. Regardless of the origins, eating fish on New Year's Day is commonplace throughout the world.

Kurlansky's book informs readers that Herring is eaten at midnight in Germany and Poland. The Swedes indulge a smorgasbord of fish dishes at their traditional Swedish New Year feast. The Japanese eat shrimp for long life and Herring roe for fertility, while the Chinese eat whole fish to symbolize having a beginning and an end.

Prosperity Cakes

Many cultures serve round cakes and baked goods to attract money-luck in the upcoming year. Italians consume fried pasta dough balls drenched in honey and dusted with confectioner sugar. In Holland, New Year's Day is kicked off with puffy pastries filled with apples and raisins.

In Mexico, the lucky New Year's tradition involves hiding trinkets inside a ring-shaped cake known as rosca de reyes. The Greeks serve a traditional "vasilopita" either at the stroke of midnight or after the New Year's meal. The Swedes serve rice pudding with a hidden whole almond tucked inside. It is believed the person who discovers the almond will be blessed with abundant fortune in the New Year.

These are just a few "lucky" food traditions for ringing in the New Year. Discover additional good luck New Year's traditions and learn which foods to avoid by visiting the sources listed below. Whatever you do, do not eat chicken, turkey or other fowl on New Year's Day as this can lead to having to "scratch" for your food in the upcoming year.

Sources:
FoodTimeline.org: New Year Food Traditions
1940s Cherry Bounce Recipe
John Mariani: The Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink
Epicurious: Lucky New Year's Day Food Traditions