7 New Year Food Traditions From Around The Globe

Spain

Spaniards indulge in 12 grapes at midnight, signifying each stroke of the clock, believed to bring good luck for each month of the upcoming year. 

United States

Southern tradition in the US calls for black-eyed peas, representing coins, and collard greens, which bring cash, luck and wealth in the coming year.

Greece

Greeks bake a special cake called ‘vasilopita’ with a hidden coin. People believe the person who finds the coin has good luck throughout the year.

Denmark

Danish New Year festivities include a dessert called ‘kransekage’. It is an almond cake tower ringed in layers, symbolising prosperity and good fortune.

Italy

In Italy and some parts of Brazil, people eat lentils cooked with cotechino sausage, representing wealth and good fortune due to their coin-like appearance. 

Philippines

Media Noche, the midnight feast, features round fruits like oranges and grapes, denoting prosperity and abundance for the coming year.

Japan

New Year’s in Japan is welcomed with ‘osechi ryori’, an assortment of meticulously prepared dishes packed in jubako boxes, representing prosperity, health, and happiness for the family.