Traditional New Year Foods for Health, Luck & Money

[Miss Critter]

I know there's another thread on black eyes (a must-have on January 1st), but what other symbolic foods do you serve to usher in the new year, and why?

Cabbage/greens = money, right?

What is pork symbolic of? And black-eyed peas? Luck? Health?

Help me out here, please. The Critters are gorging on all things healthy/lucky/prosperous come Saturday!

 

[Alicia Leonard]

I know there's another thread on black eyes (a must-have on January 1st), but what other symbolic foods do you serve to usher in the new year, and why?

Cabbage/greens = money, right?

What is pork symbolic of? And black-eyed peas? Luck? Health?

Help me out here, please. The Critters are gorging on all things healthy/lucky/prosperous come Saturday!

We always cook black eyed peas for prosperity, greens for money and cornbread for gold.

 

[Beach Runner]

According to Lucky Foods for the New Year New Year's Day at Epicurious.com:

The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Roast suckling pig is served for New Year's in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria?Austrians are also known to decorate the table with miniature pigs made of marzipan. Different pork dishes such as pig's feet are enjoyed in Sweden while Germans feast on roast pork and sausages. Pork is also consumed in Italy and the United States, where thanks to its rich fat content, it signifies wealth and prosperity.

 

[Jdarg]

Obviously pumpkin pie, bacon, and wine are not very lucky. I would have won the lottery 5 times by now!

 

[miznotebook]

I just learned that eating lobster or chicken on New Year's Day is not considered a good idea:

Recipes to Ring in the New Year | Farmers' Almanac

I did some research on New Year's superstitions a couple of years ago and found out that it's considered lucky to drink the last glass from a bottle on New Year's Eve, and to wear new clothes on New Year's Day. It's considered unlucky to have empty cupboards on New Year's Eve or to wash clothes on New Year's Day. Some people refuse to let anything go out of the house on New Year's Eve, even garbage, because they might accidentally throw out the family's good luck along with the rubbish.

P.S. Oops, I just realized that the part about not eating chicken or lobster was already on the material that Beach Runner had posted!

 

[BeachbumAggie]

huh, I just thought we ate the pork and cornbread with the black eyed peas because they go so well together!

 

[Franny]

Obviously pumpkin pie, bacon, and wine are not very lucky. I would have won the lottery 5 times by now!

 

[scooterbug44]

Yes, I need a good list of do and don'ts for New Year's! 2011 must kick 2010's butt in so many ways!

 

[miznotebook]

Here's a list from Snopes.com. I've got to be careful on New Year's because my brother has eyebrows that meet in the middle!

snopes.com: New Year's Superstitions

 

[scooterbug44]

I like those! Where can I find a tall, dark haired, good looking man to cross my threshold bearing gifts after midnight?