Whether it’s black-eyed peas as part of a New Year’s Day brunch or cabbage on New Year’s Eve, adding these good luck foods to your party plans are a delicious way to say see-ya to the old year and hello to a lucky new year. First, it has to do with the way pigs behave differently than other animals. According to some theorists, while chickens and turkeys scratch backward, a pig buries his snout into the ground and moves forward—in the same direction you want to head in the new year. Another reason is logistics: Pigs are traditionally slaughtered in late fall, which makes pork an ideal choice to set aside for celebrating the new year. Finally, pork (and cabbage) eaten on New Year’s is a German and Eastern European tradition brought to America by early settlers. Start your new year off right with these Barbecue Pork Sandwiches With Crunchy Coleslaw. Cabbage on New Year’s is also steeped in symbolism—the strands of cabbage in sauerkraut or coleslaw can symbolize long life, while cabbage can also represent money. Try your luck with this recipe for a Japanese Cabbage Pancake. One theory anchors the tradition in the Civil War, when Union soldiers raided the Confederate army’s food supply, leaving behind only this bean. Another theory is anchored in African American history, where newly-freed enslaved people celebrated the January 1863 Emancipation Proclamation with dishes made of black-eyed peas—one of the few foods available to enslaved people. But other theories date the legume’s lucky reputation back to Ancient Egypt, suggesting that eating the pea—a vegetable readily available to even the poorest enslaved people—was a way to show humility to the gods. Help increase your chances for a prosperous new year with this recipe for Black-Eyed Pea Ribollita. It’s all about the color green, which symbolizes money and prosperity. Also, according to some traditions rooted in the South, greens can be hung by the door to ward off any evil spirits that may come your way. It can’t hurt, right? Here is a collard greens with bacon recipe that’s simple, delicious, and lucky. Need more lentils in your life? Consider adding this Carrot and Red Lentil Soup to your New Year’s Eve arsenal. Eating herring was a way to hope for a good catch in the months to come because herring had unpredictable migration patterns, and a good year didn’t necessarily indicate the next year would be as successful. Today, herring still symbolizes good fortune, making it an excellent option for a New Year’s appetizer. Likewise, pickled herring makes a tasty crostini topper on any crostini party platter. Not a herring fan? Sardines are a member of the same fish family, and are also considered lucky. Try these Smoked Sardine Toasts With Lemon Mayo and Fennel Salad and test this theory for yourself. Serve soba noodles, udon, sesame stir-fried noodles, or try this delicious recipe for Spicy Coconut Noodles. Throughout the world, pomegranates, a symbol of fertility and birth, are eaten at the new year. A jewel-toned slice of Pomegranate-Almond Toast is an easy and delicious way to start the New Year on the right foot.
