New Year’s Eve is a special time of the year. It’s time to look back at the past year and think about all the new goals for the upcoming year. For many people, it also means it’s time for old traditions that will help to ensure that the next year will be successful. There are countless traditions referring to New Year’s Eve but for many people food is their favorite part. Today we will be looking at our 10 favorite traditional foods and their meaning on the New Year’s Eve dinner table. You can start planning your holiday menu early and surprise your guests.
1. Black Eyed Peas
The black eyed peas are known for resembling coins due to its shape and looks. Traditionally people have believed that by having these peas on the dinner table will ensure you a good fortune in the upcoming year.
2. Greens
If you want a little help having a good wealth in the next year you must have greens on your table. Collards and kale are the best greens to eat because of their green color which resembles money.
3. Cabbage
Cabbage is one of the last fall harvest. Cabbage’s late harvest combined with a minimum of six week long fermentation process creates a unique tasting sauerkraut. The sauerkraut symbolizes a long life because of its long preparation. If you prefer eating fresh cabbage it will bring you financial success.
4. Noodles and Rice
If you want to live a long life you must eat extra long noodles at your New Years Eve dinner table. Noodles are a known symbol for a long life, especially if the noodles are not broken apart in the middle. If you are more of a rice person and you are planning to grow your family then don’t forget to add rice in your dinner menu. Rice will bring fertility and wealth in your upcoming year.
5. Cakes
Traditionally, round shape objects symbolizes a full circle- one full year. By eating round shaped objects, many people believe that it will help to close the past year and prepare for the new one. If you believe in this tradition, make sure you have a bite of a doughnut or any other round shaped dessert that will bring a full circle of luck to you.
6. Grapes
Grapes are known symbol of abundance, wealth, prosperity and fertility. Many people will eat 12 grapes at midnight- one for each month. There is an old belief that grapes will help people be their better versions of themselves. It is important to remember that it will happen only then if you will eat all 12 grapes- no more and no less.
7. Fish
Fish symbolizes fertility, feeling, creativity, health, intelligence, good luck and other things. In many cultures, fish is a traditional New Years Eve food not only because it tastes delicious but also because of its symbolic meaning. After eating the fish you can also save their scales, dry them and place them in your wallet. Does it sounds like a weird thing to do? Fish scales symbolize wealth and money because of its coin like shape and shiny color and people say it will help to attract the money to your wallet.
8. Pomegranate
Pomegranate is used as a symbol of life, rebirth, fertility and strength. It is known as a ‘good luck fruit’ that is traditionally eaten during New Years. People believe that pomegranate will bring new a productive year in many fields, including making babies if that is what you want.
9. Pork
Fatter pigs means bigger luck! Pig has been seen as a symbol of wealth and luck for many years and this is one of the reasons why we can see pork on traditional New Years Eve tables. The luck and wealth is not the only superstitious believe pork has. It is known that pigs root around with their snouts moving in a forward motions- it symbolizes progress for the upcoming year. If you choose not to eating pork or meat you can eat pig shaped chocolates that will bring you the same benefits as real pig.
10. Cornbread
Most of the time cornbread is in light golden colors. Because of it’s golden color it has become as a symbol of gold and wealth. If improving financial situations is one of your new goals then you need to take out your cookbook and start preparing your own home made cornbread. People believe that only home baked cornbread will bring you financial luck .
We all need a little help with achieving our goals and dreams and if eating some of these foods will help you to do it- why not? Holiday traditions comes from all over the world and the best part of our modern day globalization is that we are able to share these traditions with other people and borrow good luck charms that will work for everyone of us.