New Year’s Day Traditions You May Not Know About

Ringing in the New Year can involve a variety of customs in different cultures. Foods top the list all around the world as the favorite New Year's Day rituals. Most of these edible traditions stem from superstitions related to good luck, prosperity, health, and moving forward into the New Year. 

Round foods.  The Spanish eat twelve grapes for luck as the clock chimes twelve times at midnight, symbolizing the twelve months of the New Year. In the southern United States, people often eat black-eyed peas, believing they will bring prosperity. Donuts and bagels are popular in the States as well, as their shape represents the year coming full circle. So why round foods? They share the same shape as coins, hopefully an omen of good fortune in the year to come.

Pork.  Pigs “root forward”, which denotes progress in the New Year. Some believe chicken and turkey must not be eaten on the first day of the year, for fear that, like the aforementioned birds, diners may be fated to scratch in the dirt all year for their food. (Not a pork eater? Pig-shaped cookies will do!)

Cornbread.  This is another favorite in the southern U.S. Cornbread, as it's the color of gold, is considered to be lucky.

Perhaps your family enjoys some of these traditional New Year's Day foods, but if not, this list is sure to inspire you to create your own luck for the New Year.