Where did the time go? The New Year is upon us. New Years is a time for renewal, with the promise of a better year. Many cultures believe in eating New Years lucky foods to start the year off with health, prosperity and luck.

1. New Years Lucky Foods
New Year’s Day brings the promise of a better, more
prosperous year. Call it tradition or superstition, but
around the world, people eat specific foods on New Years
Eve and New Years day, that symbolize luck. Browse our
guide for the dishes you should be eating.

2. Greens will “Show you the money!” Cooked collard,
spinach, cabbage and kale are all said to represent paper
money. Germans eat lots of sauerkraut, Danish like their
kale sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar, while in the U.S.,
collards and bacon are quite popular. Make sure and pile it
on….the more greens you eat, the more fortune (& fiber)
you will have in the coming year.

3.
Beans: From Portugal & South America to Africa, India
& Vietnam, many cultures believe that because they
resemble coins, beans will bring good fortune in the New
Year. They also swell when you cook them symbolizing
growth in the new year. Black eyed peas & green lentils
are the most common beans eaten on New Years Day.

4.
Pork & Fish
Fish swim forward, which we all want to move forward in
the New Year, & the scales are believed to symbolize silver.
Another theory is that since many fish swim in schools, a
sign of abundance. Some believe the fish should be served
whole, with head and tail, to ensure a good year from
start to finish.
Pigs dig their snout, representing forward movement or
progress, while embracing challenges. Pigs are also
associated with plumpness, which could relate to having
“plenty” in the New Year.
Why didn’t chicken, turkey, crab, lobster or beef make the
list? Read our New Year’s Lucky Foods post for the scoop.

5. Fruits
Lucky fruits vary from one country to another. In many Latin countries it
is tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight, one for each
month in the coming year, and make a wish for each grape. If a grape is
sour, it symbolizes that will be a tough month. For example if the 3rd
grape you eat is sour then watch out for March.
Round fruits are good luck since they are shaped like coins, and also
their sweetness means good things in the coming year. Mandarin
oranges & tangerines are popular for their golden color. Pomegranates
have many seeds said to symbolize abundance in the new year. Take a
few seeds and suck them clean and then put them in your purse or
wallet to ensure money year round. Figs are said to symbolize fertility.

6. Long Noodles
Soba and other long noodles are customary to
eat on New Years, but they should be whole
noodles—not cut or broken at all, to signify
longevity (long life.) Soups and stir fry are the
most popular ways of serving these on New
Years.

7. Cornbread
Cornbread is
especially popular
on New Years due
to it’s gold color,
not to mention it
makes a great
side dish. Some
people add extra
corn kernels to
their recipe to symbolize golden nuggets.

8. Round Foods
Foods in the shape of a ring are said to bring good luck,
possibly because it symbolizes “coming full circle.”
In Greece, they make a cake called vasilopita. There is 1
coin placed inside the cake, & whoever receives it will have
good luck all year. In Italy they serve chiacchiere which are
deep fried balls of pasta dough drenched in honey and
dusted with powdered sugar. Other European countries
serve donut like pastries filled with raisins and currants.
This doesn't just apply to desserts, you could serve bagels,
or pancakes for breakfast, pizza for lunch...you get the
picture!

9. Rice & Grains
Rice, quinoa & other grains that “swell” when
cooking stand for growth in the coming year.
Hoppin’ John served with a side of collard greens &
corn bread is a very common dish in the South. It’s a
“supercharged lucky meal” including beans, rice,
greens, pork & corn. Have some type of fish (like
sushi,) & soba noodles for appetizer, a round cake
topped with lucky fruit for dessert, & you would
have included every type of lucky food suggested for
New Years.

10. Why not have a little fun this New Years & prepare
some of these lucky foods in the hopes that you can
shake off anything negative from the year that
passed, and ask fate to smile upon you with luck in
future endeavors be it love, health, financial or
otherwise? If nothing else it’s fun to try new dishes.
If you want help coming up with menu ideas, we
invite you to read our New Years Lucky Foods Menu
Ideas article.
We wish you all a very Happy, Healthy & Prosperous
New Year...as well as Happy Travels in 2014!
www.atlastravelweb.com