New Year’s Lucky Foods

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New Year’s Lucky Foods to Bring Good Luck

What three foods are you supposed to eat on New Year’s Day?

Can you believe the New Year is almost here? The end of the year is a good time to get finances in order, get together with loved ones, clear clutter, set upcoming goals, and write a gratitude list. It’s also a time to prepare for the holidays. It’s never too early to start working on your New Year’s Lucky Foods menus and New Year’s Eve recipes. Imagine getting all your shopping done early for the holiday season as well, so when the clock strikes midnight, you will be ready for good luck.

As the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, it is a time to reflect and assess the year that has gone by…to hopefully realize how precious time is and to resolve to do better in going forward.  The word “new” brings about thoughts of hope and an opportunity to focus on a list of fresh goals, challenges, and opportunities.

Many cultures around the world believe the key to a happy, healthy, financially secure, and even productive year begins with eating certain good-luck foods on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. The theory is “do good, eat good” on the 1st day of the year to begin the New Year right. Perhaps you want to know What NOT to eat on New Year’s Day then we have you covered.

As a family, we enjoy many New Year’s Eve food traditions. We enjoy paring good luck food menu together and love the way these New Year’s Eve food traditions tie into our passion for travel. An interesting and essential part of getting to know another culture is by tasting their local foods and experiencing new customs firsthand, so every year, we at Atlas Cruises and Tours proudly share this post on New Year’s lucky foods traditions and superstitions from around the world.

New Years Eve Food Traditions – Lucky Foods 2024:

New Years Lucky Foods grapes

Grapes – bring good luck

Eat twelve grapes, one for each chime of a clock, right after midnight to bring luck in the New Year. This tradition is said to have started in 1909 by grape growers who wanted to cut down on a surplus of grapes. The grape ritual is said to guarantee sweetness and fortune in the year ahead. Each grape follows the month – so your first grape represents January, 2nd February, etc. If you happen to get a sour grape along the way, it is said to predict that the month will be a challenging one in 2024. In Spain, Mexico, Portugal, and Cuba, celebrants make a special wish for each grape. In Spain, the grape ritual is often followed by parties that last into the next morning and end with breakfast. In fact, several variations of the grape tradition are found in many other Spanish-speaking countries around the world. Make sure to have your 12 grapes counted out and ready on New Year’s Eve.


New Years Lucky Foods round fruits

Round Fruits to bring good luck

Round fruits, such as oranges & apples, are considered New Year’s Lucky foods in many countries because they are believed to symbolize coins & bring a prosperous New Year.

  • Mandarin oranges and tangerines are the most popular lucky fruits in China and Asian countries because of their golden color, which is supposed to represent wealth and good luck. In feng shui, it is believed that oranges can ward off bad luck.
  • Going a bit further into feng shui, there are lucky fruits you can eat that they believe will help balance the elements and organs in your body.  For example, cranberries, red cherries, strawberries and red apples are fire elements and are believed to help with heart health. Blueberry represents the water element and can help with kidney problems, and lemons & limes can increase liver chi.
  • In Vietnam, red is considered lucky color, so watermelon is served.
  • In Greece, they smash a pomegranate at the entrance of the house right after midnight. The further the seeds spread, the better the luck for the family in the new year.
  • In ancient Italy, figs were said to be a symbol of fertility. If you want to create a β€œlucky” centerpiece for your New Year’s Eve party, put a bowl of pomegranate and citrus fruits on your dining room table.
  • In the Mediterranean regions, many feel pomegranates are a symbol of fertility and abundance due to all of the seeds.
  • In the Philippines, they believe in eating 12 fruits on New Year’s day to bring luck and bring prosperity – one fruit representing each month of the New Year.
  • Avocado (yes, it’s a fruit!)  Its green & purple colors are said to represent prosperity and good fortune.

New Years Lucky Foods beans

Beans to bring good luck

Why eat black-eyed peas or other beans on New Year’s? Eating beans on New Year’s is considered good luck. The theory is that beans symbolize prosperity and growth because they “swell” as you cook them. In the Southern United States, the New Year’s Eve food tradition of eating beans shows a sign of humility and, therefore, invites good fortune. Black-eyed peas are the most popular beans eaten on New Year’s, followed by green lentils. The lentils round shape is said to represent coins, and green represents the color of money. Here are some of the examples of bean dishes eaten around the world as New Year’s lucky foods.

  • In Italy, people often eat green lentils with sausages (cotechino con lenticchie).
  • In Puerto Rico, they will often make rice and beans (Arroz con gandules).
  • In Brazil, they have lentil beans on top of white rice, rather than prepared into the rice as it’s done in Puerto Rico.
  • In Hungary, they prepare a lentil stew made with pork jowl, onions, and spices, including Hungarian paprika, vinegar, and mustard, served with a dollop of sour cream on top.
  • In Japan, sweet black beans (kuromame) are often a side dish on New Year’s and it’s said that they will ensure good health in the coming year.
  • As for black-eyed peas, you will find them all over the world on New Year’s. Black-eyed peas are associated with a mystical power to bring good luck.  Black-eyed peas, cornbread, and collard greens are traditional Southern dishes in the U.S., as is Hoppin’ John.  This tradition is said to have African origin and spread through the South.  In Portugal, black-eyed peas are served with boiled cod and potatoes. In Egypt, they prepare a bean stew out of black-eyed peas called Lobya served with Egyptian rice. In Vietnam, black-eyed peas are used to make sweet rice and bean pudding. In Colombia, they make breakfast fritters out of the black-eyed peas called bunuelos de frijol de cabecita negro. Black-eyed peas are a staple in many Greek foods. For New Year’s, they are slow-cooked with olive oil, onions, garlic, tomatoes, and wild greens. In many Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, Jordan & Lebanon, they also prepare black-eyed peas (called lubiya) with onions and tomatoes and is usually served as a side dish. In Guayana, they make black-eyed peas β€œcook-up” rice made with a coconut broth, fried fish, and plantains. According to tradition, cook-up rice should be the first thing eaten in the New Year for good luck. Tiny yet mighty, beans are a great source of protein, fiber, potassium, zinc, and iron, so add beans to your New Years Eve Lucky foods menu. Make your beans on New Year’s eve so you can enjoy them the next day.

New Years Eve Lucky Foods greens

Greens : good luck foods

Leafy greens resemble paper money, so they are a symbol or wealth and good fortune. The color green symbolizes luck. Cooked collard, turnip greens, mustard greens, chard, spinach, cabbage, arugula, dandelion greens, and kale are all thought to “show you the money” in the new year. Germans eat lots of sauerkraut. The round shape is lucky, and the green for them represents money. The Danish like their kale sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. Many people in the U.S. cook collard greens with ham or pork. Make sure to pile it on. The more greens you eat, the more fortune you will have in the year ahead. Besides, eating lots of greens means that you are also detoxing your body for the new year with all of the added fiber and live a long life. Greens also provide beneficial vitamins and antioxidants, which help reduce stress and inflammation.


New Years Eve Lucky Foods pork

Pork : good luck foods

If you eat meat, pick pork over chicken or beef on New Year’s Day because pigs dig with their snout, representing forward movement or progress, while chickens and turkeys scratch backward, and cows stand still (we all want to move forward, not backward or stay in the same place in the New Year!) Ribs, bacon, ham, and sausage are all easy to incorporate into your New Year’s lucky foods menu. If you are the cook in the house, consider putting pork or ham in your black-eyed peas or lentils for added flavor. Many cultures, including Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Ireland, eat pork not only because of the belief of moving forward but because fatty meat is also symbolic of “fattening” their wallets.  Germans feel that pigs are so lucky that they give marzipan pigs, known as GlΓΌcksschwein (lucky pigs) as gifts to bring good luck in the year ahead.


New Years Eve Lucky Foods fish

Whole Fish : good luck foods

If you want to stay away from meat, fish is a good choice as a New Year’s Eve Lucky food since most fish swim forward, representing moving forward in the coming year, and their scales are believed to symbolize silver.  Another superstition is that since many fish swim in schools and lay lots of eggs at one time, it is a sign of abundance. I personally would stay away from bottom dwellers like catfish, just in case, because that could mean something will hold you down in the New Year (just a thought). Pickled herring, salted cod, sardines, and carp are popular New Year’s Eve dishes in European and Scandinavian countries. In Germany, some people put fish scales in their wallets and keep them there all year, as it’s believed to bring about good luck. The Japanese also have fish to bring prosperity and wealth, as well as shrimp for a long life and herring roe for fertility. In some countries, the fish is served whole (head and tail), symbolizing the end of one year and the beginning of another. No lobster or crab as they walk sideways and backwards. If you want seafood other than fish, shrimp, clams, mussels, squid, and oysters are all good choices as New Year’s Lucky foods.


New Years Eve Lucky Foods noodles

Long Noodles – symbolize longevity, long life, good luck foods

Eat noodles symbolize longevity. In China and Asian Countries people eat the New Year’s Eve Lucky Foods meal always includes noodles. Here is the catch: you must eat at least one long noodle in one piece (without chewing) for a good long life, so you will need a big pot to boil them whole and practice your slurping skills. Japan has the same belief and serves long toshikoshi soba noodles on New Year’s Day. Traditionally, they eat them at midnight on New Year’s Eve when the clock strikes midnight and the longer the noodles, the better.  A common dish prepared in Asia for New Year’s using noodles is stir-fry.


New Years Lucky Foods grains

Grains for Good Luck

Rice, quinoa, risotto, barley, oats and other starches symbolize abundance since they swell when cooked. Like noodles, in some cultures people eat rice right after midnight to attract lots of good luck in the year ahead. In Indian mythology, rice is used in religious ceremonies, as it’s believed that rice grains can soak up evil energy and any bad omens. Japanese rice cakes (mochi) made from pounded, steamed rice and filled with sweet bean paste are a popular appetizer.  In China, they serve Tangyuan, which is sweet rice balls.  In Korea, they serve bibimbap, meaning mixed rice in English, is served in a hot bowl with sautΓ©ed vegetables, chili, and soybean paste.  Many Latin countries serve rice with beans for New Year’s.  Rice pudding is served in Sweden and Finland as a lucky dessert.  In the U.S., Hoppin’ John and Jambalaya are often served.  You can of course substitute the rice in these dishes with quinoa or barley.


New Years Lucky Foods root vegetables

Root Vegetables: good luck foods

Through yoga and holistic healing, many of us are familiar with the various chakra points in the body. The root chakra is said to be the energy center that keeps us calm, grounded and roots us to our core values and beliefs. To find balance in all aspects of your life and be open to good luck and good energy in the New Year, begin with this chakra. If the root chakra is unbalanced, you may find yourself giving into old habits, patterns, and mindsets that hold you back. People that are grounded tend to be more open, realistic, organized, and practical. According to Ayurvedic Medicine, the roots of a plant are its anchor and the foundation of life, so the theory is that when you eat these vegetables, you take in that deeply rooted and grounded energy.  Incorporate root vegetables as New Year’s Eve Lucky foods and begin the year with a calming and grounding effect on the mind and body. Root chakra foods are potatoes, carrots, radishes, onions, turnips, squash, parsnip, sweet potato, beets, garlic, ginger, and so on.

You can also incorporate spices that have a warming effect on the body, such as cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, mustard seed, turmeric, cloves, and black pepper. Of course, we recommend having these foods year-round not just when the clock strikes midnight.


New Years Lucky Foods sweets

Sweet Treats: good luck foods

Cakes, cookies, pies, creme brulee and donuts are considered lucky foods.  St. Basil’s bread, known as vasilopita, plays an important role in Greek New Year’s traditions. The bread is sweet and baked with a coin hidden in it. At midnight, Greek families turn off the lights, and the head of the household slices the cake and shares it among the family. The family member who gets the piece of bread with the coin inside is guaranteed to have good luck in the New Year.  France also serves a cake with a coin or small ceramic inside called King’s cake. The cake consists of puff pastry, almond filling and is famous for its colorful frosting. Doughnuts and fritters are popular in Eastern Europe. In Italy, many make struffoli, which is a dozen small doughnut-like balls placed in a full circle, held together by honey and topped with candied fruit and powdered sugar.  In Mexico many households make flan.  In the Caribbean, spiced rum cake is often on the table.  If you don’t feel like baking, you could go with round candy like peanut butter cups, lolly pops Whoppers or Milk Duds they are said to resemble coins.


New Years Lucky Foods round foods

Round Foods: good luck foods

Round foods are in the shape of a “ring” and represent the year coming β€œfull circle.”

It’s very easy to incorporate round foods into your Lucky Foods menu. Crepes, biscuits, pies, bagels, quiche, quesadillas, brie, burgers, fried eggs, meatballs, sushi and pizzas are all options.  Of course, for good health foods, you can opt for melon balls, sushi, sliced tomatoes, olives, mushrooms, eggplant, potatoes, and other veggies sliced in circles. Get creative and use cookie cutters to make round shapes out of certain foods such as polenta, cheeses, and fruits.


New Years Lucky Foods cornbread

Cornbread: good luck foods

Said to symbolize gold, cornbread is a popular New Year’s Southern tradition. Some people add extra corn kernels, emblematic of golden nuggets to ensure extra luck. Due to its golden color, some like to use a drizzle of honey or honey butter as a topping on their cornbread to add even more good luck.  We found some creative cornbread skillet recipes online that included black-eyed peas & smoked sausage, offering several New Year’s lucky foods in one serving or making cornbread pancakes for breakfast.

Leftover cornbread can also be used in stuffing, as breading to make nuggets, croutons, casseroles, or cornbread pudding. As the Southern saying goes, β€œpeas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.”


New Years Lucky Foods champagne

Champagne

Although a drink and not a food item, we can’t leave out the champagne.  Toast the New Year with champagne or prosecco. In some cultures, they suggest that, right after midnight, you take 3 short hops without spilling your drink and then pour the champagne behind you to leave all of the negative in the past. If your champagne lands on someone else – no problem, as that is supposed to mean good luck for them. Perhaps a bottle of cheap champagne for throwing over your shoulder and a nice bottle for the toast?  If champagne is not your thing, you can also have Prosecco or Moscato.  In Scotland, it’s a tradition to toast the New year with a shot of whisky.


Now, if you are ready to put together your menu of New Year’s Lucky Foods 2024 this holiday season, just click on the link below:

New Years Lucky Foods Menu Ideas
Lucky Food Recipes for the New Year


New Years Traditions For Good Luck

New Years Lucky Foods 2024

New Years Lucky Foods 2024

New Years Lucky Foods 2024

We hope you have enjoyed our post on New Year’s Good Luck foods.  Atlas has been in business for over 34 years and is an award winning, top travel agency for many cruise lines including, Celebrity Cruises, NCL Cruises, Holland America Cruises, Princess Cruises, Crystal Cruises & Regent Seven Seas, Ama Waterways River Cruises & Avalon River Cruises. What are your favorite New Year’s Eve Food Traditions and Lucky Foods 2024 this holiday season?

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32 COMMENTS

  1. […] Go here to see the original: Customs For Good Luck in the New Year | Atlas Cruises and Tours … […]

  2. You forgot to mention the superstition that supposes the first person who enters your home after the stroke of midnight will play an influential role in the year to come. I’ve also read that blond, red-headed, the cross-eyed, flat-footed, and uni-brow visitors will bring bad luck and the tall and dark haired guests carry good luck.

    Another one is the first person that enter the house after midnight should knock, even if they live there.

  3. I read that to be successful in the new year you shoudl work. You dont have to go into work but do something that is work related.

  4. I’m from Boston & it’s a tradition to have chinese food on New Years eve. I don’t know why, does anyone know where that came from?

  5. There is no harm in trying. And I tried it actually, thanks so much for the info.
    More Power!

  6. Champagne – Drink 3 shots of champagne (without spilling it) and throw then throw the bottle of champagne behind your back to throw all your bad luck in the previous year.

  7. Thank you for your question. Fish is on the list for sure! They swim forward which means progress. Also, the scales resemble coins, and they swim in schools which invoke the idea of abundance. Make sure and keep beef and chicken are no on your menu. We wish you a very happy New Year!

  8. Thank you for your question. Crabs are not recommended – they walk sideways, which according to superstition means you will stay in the same place the coming year vs. moving forwards. Shrimp are known to swim forward (although they can dart backwards quickly if needed,) they lay thousands of eggs at one time & tend to swim in schools, which in Chinese customs represents “abundance.” Shrimp are rich in calcium, iodine, as well as proteins, so yes they make a great choice for New Year’s lucky foods!

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