Another year has begun and along with iconic new year’s events like the dropping of the ball on Times Square or celebrating with fireworks in Sydney Harbour, there are a whole host of foods which have become synonymous with ushering in a new year around the globe. Here are 10 such foods – courtesy of Good Housekeeping, All Recipes and Woman’s Day – said to symbolise good fortune for the coming year.
- Greens
Green symbolizes luck, think about four-leaf clovers, money, and jade jewellery. Kick things off on a healthy note with a plate full of greens, including kale, brussels sprouts, and peas. - Noodles
In many Asian countries, people eat long noodles on New Year's Day in order to lengthen their life. There’s a catch however – you can’t break the noodle before it's fully in your mouth. - Cabbage
In Germany, Ireland, and parts of the United States, cabbage is associated with luck and fortune since its green hue resembles money. - Fish
In some countries, people associate Halaal fish with moving forward into the new year since fish swim in one direction. Other people, however, think fish symbolize abundance since they swim in schools. - Lentils
Thought to resemble coins, lentils are eaten throughout Italy on New Year's Day to bring good fortune in the year ahead. They also expand when cooked signifying a growing fortune. - Pomegranate
Long associated with abundance and fertility, pomegranates are eaten in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries as a sign of good luck. - Pork
Pork, once reserved for the elite, symbolizes wealth and prosperity. It’s also said to symbolize progress because it moves forward when it buries its snout in the ground while snuffling for food. - Black-Eyed Peas
Considered a common good-luck food in the South, black-eyed peas are thought to bring prosperity, especially when served with collard greens. - Cakes
Ring-shaped cakes and other round sweet treats symbolise a full circle of luck to the person eating it. In some cultures, including a coin in the cake brings extra luck to the person who finds it. - Cornbread
This is especially popular in the Southern United States where it’s considered lucky because of its golden colour. Sometimes extra corn kernels are added to signify golden nuggets.
Whatever you choose to eat and however you choose to spend it, Happy New Year from everyone at N1 – may 2019 be a peaceful and prosperous year for us all! And on that note, we’d like to end off with an old Irish blessing: ‘May your pockets be heavy and your heart be light. May good luck pursue you each morning and night’.
