You've probably heard the New Year's superstitions that say eating certain foods at the beginning of the year can help bring you luck, prosperity, and fortune in the year ahead. Well, here's a review of lucky foods and recipes and an introduction to foods that have been considered lucky throughout the ages. From lentils in Ancient Rome to pork in Celtic culture, fish in many countries in the world and round or ring-shaped cakes.

Many of these foods are eaten at New Year to bring luck and good fortune throughout the year, though others are more culture specific and are eaten at different times (but more on that later).

I've been collecting these recipes and some of the anecdotes about them for many decades now. But until writing this recipe I hadn't brought them all into one place.

Curiously enough, almost all lucky food traditions, from Japan to Germany, to New Orleans, to ancient Rome even, seem to follow similar patterns: Long foods equal long life, whether you're talking about German sauerkraut or Japanese noodles. Ring shaped foods, such as Bundt cakes, signifies the year (of luck) coming full circle (ring cakes are also never-ending, indicating an extended lifespan).

Foods that look like (or are the colour of) money will help bring fortune and prosperity, from Roman coin-shaped lentils to dollar-green collards, to golden cornbread. And if you eat any animals, make sure they're ones that move forward, such as fish or pigs, and not ones that move backwards, such as chicken or shellfish.

Lentils

It was the Romans who first associated lentils with luck as these little pulses resembled coins and their ability to expand in water resembled growth. They are still considered lucky today, particularly in Italy and Brazil.

They’re often enjoyed with pork dishes for extra luck, especially on New Year’s Day. The hearty legume is a comforting food that also symbolizes abundance. Eating a bowl of lentils is a hopeful start to a fruitful year ahead.

Example Recipes:
Spatchcocked Poussin with Lentils and Harissa
Slow Cooker Turkey and Lentil Chili
Zuppa di lenticchie di Capodanno (Italian New Year Lentil Soup)
Lentil Stew with Sausage
Fakes Soupa

Lotus

This is a Chinese-specific lucky food.

The name for lotus root in Cantonese sounds very similar to the expression year after year. Eating lotus root is believed to bring abundance and prosperity in the new year.

In the Chinese culture, lotus seeds symbolise fertility and good luck. More specifically lotus seeds are exactly what you need for a bountiful year with new bouncing babies in your home.

Example Recipes:
Lucky Prawns and Lotus Seeds
Spicy Lotus Root Stir Fry
Spicy Beef and Longevity Noodles
Winter Rice Pudding with Dried Fruit
Eight-treasures Sweet Rice Cake

Apples

Apples are seen as symbols of health, love, and peace in various cultures, especially during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Eating apples dipped in honey during this celebration is a way to wish for a sweet and healthy new year.

Apples have long been associated with wellness and positive energy. Their round shape and color also symbolize harmony and completeness. For many, enjoying apples is a simple act to invite positivity and health.

Example Recipes:
Irish Apple Potato Cake
Honey Apple Cake for Rosh Hashanah
Elizabethan Wassail Drink
Oliebollen (Dutch New Year Doughnuts) Aumonières aux pommes et aux marrons (Apple and Chestnut Purses)

Grapes

Eating 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve is a beloved tradition in Spain and some Latin American countries. Each grape represents a month of the upcoming year, and the goal is to eat all 12 before the clock strikes twelve.

This practice is believed to bring prosperity and ward off negativity for each month ahead. People often say that the sweetness or tartness of each grape can symbolize the nature of each month to come. It's a fun way to start the year with a little bit of fortune-telling and a lot of laughter.

Example Recipes:
Frozen Grapes with Chocolate and Aguardiente
Pork Chops with Roasted Grapes
Vanilla Pod Roasted Grapes

Pomegranates

The pomegranate, rich in seeds, is a powerful symbol of fertility and abundance in Greek and Mediterranean cultures. Breaking open a pomegranate on New Year’s Day and scattering its seeds is thought to bring prosperity to one’s household.

Each seed represents wealth, so the more seeds, the more abundant the blessings. This fruit is also revered for its vibrant colour, symbolizing life and energy. In Turkey, eating pomegranate seeds is believed to attract good fortune in love and life.

Example Recipes:
Lamb Curry with Pomegranate
Pomegranate Lokum (Pomegranate Turkish Delight)
Tabbouleh with Pomegranates
Orange and Pomegranate Cake
Pomegranate Ice
Italian Cake Christmas Pudding

Fish

Fish is considered lucky in many parts of the world, from Scandinavia to Asia. In China, fish represents abundance, as the word for fish sounds like "surplus" in Mandarin. Many families eat fish at New Year celebrations to ensure a year of plenty.

In Europe, eating herring on New Year’s is also thought to bring prosperity, as fish scales resemble coins. Fish is cherished as a sign of bounty and abundance, whether served whole or in fillets.

Herring

Fish is a common food in many countries, especially ones close to water. In Scandinavian cultures, herring is considered a sign of good fortune, especially since its silver scales have the look of money.

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.

Example Recipes:
Chinese-style Barbecued Mackerel
Chinese Steamed Sea Bream
Chinese Pan-fried Whole Fish
Manx Potted Herring
Cornish Baked Herring
Scottish Pickled Herring
Home Cured Herring
Gepekelde Haring (Soused Herring)

Dumplings

Dumplings in Chinese culture are thought to resemble bouillon ingots or traditional style purses and are believed to indicate wealth and luck for Chinese New Year.

Again, due to their association with money and wealth, various foods shaped in purse form are considered lucky around the globe.

Example Recipes:
Chinese Dumplings
Aumonières aux pommes et aux marrons (Breton Apple and Chestnut Purses)
Pelmeni (Siberian Dumplings)
Chicken Momos
Jumalikud Pelmeenid (Dominican Divine Dumpling)
Buuz (Mongolian Steamed Dumplings)
Pelmeni (Kyrgyz Mutton Dumplings)
Keke Pu'a (Samoan Steamed Pork Buns)
Fukusazushi
Puff Pastry Purses
Aumonières aux pommes et aux marrons (Apple and Chestnut Purses)

Noodles

Long noodles are symbols of longevity in many Asian countries, especially in China and Japan. They’re often served uncut, as cutting them would symbolize shortening one's life. During celebrations like birthdays and New Year’s, people enjoy these noodles to wish for a long, healthy life. Savouring each slurp is a way to honour tradition and invite good health. The longer the noodles, the longer the life—making them a fun, delicious way to wish for longevity.

In addition to symbolizing longevity, eating noodles also signifies prosperity and good luck, which is why serving any kind of noodles for Chinese New Year is always a good idea.

Example Recipes:
Hoisin Chicken Noodles
Spicy Beef Longevity Noodles
Dan Dan Noodles
Chorizo and Spinach Linguine
Toshikoshi Soba (New Year's Eve Soba)
Yi Mein (Longevity Noodles)

Greens

Leafy greens such as kale, cabbage, and collard greens are thought to bring financial success, especially in the United States. Their green colour resembles money, and it’s believed that the more greens you eat, the more wealth you’ll attract in the coming year.

You also get German-influenced dishes of pork and cabbage or pork and sauerkraut served as New Year meals.

Often paired with pork or cornbread, greens are served as a meal on New Year's Day. They’re a delicious way to fill up on nutrients while also inviting prosperity. This hearty tradition adds a fresh start to any celebration.

Example Recipes:
Southern-style Collard Greens
Puerto Rican Coconut Collard Greens
Liberian Collards and Cabbage
Sautéed Collard Greens
Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
Cabbage Jambalaya
Eisbein mit Sauerkraut (Ham hock with Sauerkraut)
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Chorizo and Spinach Linguine
Spare Ribs, Cabbage, and Sauerkraut
Japraci (Collard Greens Dolmas)

Black-Eyed Beans

In the Southern United States, black-eyed peas are a popular New Year’s Day dish that symbolizes luck and wealth. Often enjoyed in a dish called "Hoppin’ John," black-eyed peas are thought to bring prosperity for the year ahead.

The small legumes are said to resemble coins, and eating them is believed to attract financial abundance. Many also add a coin to the pot of beans while cooking for extra good fortune. It's a humble yet hopeful meal rooted in Southern tradition.

Example Recipes:
New Year's Hoppin' John
Cape Malay Black-eyed Beans Curry
Ghanaian Red-red
Namibian Black-eyed Peas
Black Eyed Beans Jambalaya Recipe
Sao Tomean Feijoada

Oranges

Oranges are symbols of happiness and good luck in Chinese culture, often given as gifts during the Lunar New Year. Their bright colour is associated with wealth, and their round shape resembles coins.

Peeling and sharing oranges is also thought to spread positivity and prosperity to friends and family. In addition to their symbolism, oranges are enjoyed for their refreshing taste and health benefits. Having a few on hand during celebrations is a simple way to welcome fortune.

Example Recipes:
Chaozhou Mandarin Orange Cakes
Orange Olive Oil Cake
Oozy Orange Cupcakes
Blood Orange Granita
Seville Orange Marmalade
Blood Orange Possets
Orange Semolina Cake with Orange or Marmalade Glaze
Orange and Pomegranate Cake

Pigs and Pork

Pigs and pork are considered lucky in many cultures. Particularly in Germany, where pig-shaped breads and sweetmeats are given to children for New Year and in China. It used to be a sacred animal in the Celtic world.

One hypothesis as to why pork is lucky is that pigs put their snout down and “root forward” when searching for food, signifying moving forward in the New Year. Thus, eating pork symbolises forward progress. As pork is fatty and rich tasting it also thought to symbolize good luck in the area of wealth for the New Year.

Pork is widely considered a lucky food because pigs symbolize progress. Eating pork on New Year's Day represents moving forward in many cultures, especially in Europe. Pigs root forward while they eat, symbolizing advancement and success.

Enjoyed in various forms, from sausages to roast, pork is a rich and flavourful meat that signifies abundance. A meal with pork is a hopeful start toward achieving one's goals in the new year.

Eating pork on New Year’s Day is a huge tradition in Germany, Eastern Europe, and of course in the Midwest section of the United States.

Example Recipes:
Gluecks-Schweinchen (German New Year Good Luck Pig Buns)
Marzipanschweine (German Marzipan Pigs)
Cranberry-rosemary Stuffed Pork Loin
Crockpot Pulled Pork
Clementine and Five-spice Ham
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Cornbread

Cornbread, especially in the American South, symbolizes gold and wealth. Traditionally served alongside greens and black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, this golden bread represents financial success.

Cornbread’s bright colour is linked to prosperity, and its soft, warm texture makes it a comforting addition to the meal. This hearty bread adds a festive touch to any meal with a side of good fortune. Each bite is a wish for a bountiful year ahead.

Example Recipes:
Sweet Cornbread
Traditional Cornbread
Buttermilk Cornbread
Southern Cornbread
Cajun Crayfish Cornbread
Chilli Cornbread
Cornbread-stuffed Mussels
Jalapeño Cornbread
Liberian Cornbread
Southern Cornbread Stuffing
Golden Cornbread with Calendula Petals
Swazi Cornbread
Mealie Cornbread
Maisbrot aus Namibia (Namibian-style Cornbread)
Aruban Corn Bread
Sopa Paraguaya (Paraguayan Cornbread)
Corn Bread with Paprika
Humintas (Bolivian Cornbread)

Rice

In Asian and Latin American cultures, rice is a staple food that represents fertility, abundance, and prosperity. As a crop that feeds millions, rice signifies sustenance and a stable life.

It’s often served at weddings and during harvest festivals to celebrate blessings and hope for continued prosperity. Some cultures even throw rice at newlyweds to shower them with luck. Eating rice is a humble yet meaningful tradition that embodies hope for abundance.

Example Recipes:
Criollo (Venezuelan Shredded Beef with Rice and Beans)
Costa Rican Arroz con Pollo
Basic Microwave Steamed Rice
Gingko Rice
Winter Rice Pudding with Dried Fruit
Middle Eastern Rice
Red Rice Rava Kheer
Classic Rice Pudding
Saffron Rice
Eight Treasures Sweet Rice Cakes
Pressure Cooker Jasmine Rice
Pressure Cooker Jambalaya
Air Fryer White Rice
Air Fryer Egg Fried Rice
Moroccan Rice Pudding
Perfect Steamed Rice
Arroz Rojo Mexican Red Rice
Microwave Rice
Hannah Glasse: To Boil the Rice
Jamaican Rice and Peas
Antipasto Rice
Arroz al Horno con Perdiz (Baked Rice with Garlic)
Guam Red Rice
Liberian Dry Rice
Yellow Rice with Raisins
Yellow Coconut Rice
Botswanan Rice Balls
Emirati Yellow Rice
Sudanese Rice
Laos Glutinous (Sweet) Rice
Stuffed Cabbage Rolls
Spicy Mexican-inspired Rice

Pretzels

Pretzels are considered lucky because of their knotted shape, which symbolizes continuity, cyclicality, and prosperity. Their holes represent life’s journey. The twists convey overcoming life’s obstacles.

Pretzels have a long history that stretches back to the early Middle Ages. They originated in Europe, likely either France or Italy around the 6th century.

From there, pretzel-making spread to Germany and Switzerland. In Switzerland around the 12th century, pretzels were used as a reward for schoolchildren who learned their lessons. This is where the idea of pretzels being associated with good luck and prosperity began.

In Germany, pretzels were adopted as an official food of Lent in the 14th century. Being a simple bread, they were considered an acceptable food to eat while fasting. Pretzels could also last a long time without spoiling, which added to their appeal.

The pretzel shape itself also carried symbolic meaning. Historians believe the unique knotted shape represents arms crossed in prayer, which fits with its association with Lent. The three holes in the common pretzel shape have also been thought to represent the Holy Trinity of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The tradition of eating pretzels on New Year’s Eve has its origins in Germany. In Germany in the 1800s, pretzels were regarded as a New Year’s symbol.

There are a few reasons behind this association:
      Their knotted shape resembles a pair of folded arms, expressing hope and celebration for the new year.
      They’re made from dough, giving them connotations of growth for the year ahead.
      Their three holes came to represent the three phases of life – youth, adulthood, and old age – and the passage of time.

Pretzels were also displayed prominently on New Year’s Eve in Germany. People would hang pretzels on Christmas trees and give them as gifts at New Year’s celebrations. The pretzel became a symbol of good fortune, prosperity, and new beginnings.

In the 1700s and 1800s, many Germans immigrated to America, especially Pennsylvania. They brought their pretzel-baking heritage and traditions with them.

One place this took special hold was in Pennsylvania Dutch country. The Pennsylvania Dutch maintained the tradition of celebrating New Year’s Eve with pretzels to represent good fortune in the upcoming year. Pretzels were also a practical New Year’s treat: they could be easily made from pantry ingredients that would keep through the winter.

Over time, communities across America adopted the tradition as their own unique cultural heritage. Today, Pennsylvania remains one of the top producers of pretzels in the U.S. Beyond Pennsylvania, pretzels on New Year’s Eve became popular in other American regions as well:
      In the American South, pretzels arethought to bring prosperity when eaten New Year’s Eve. Revelers place them under their beds on New Year’s Day to bring good luck.
      In some Midwestern states like Nebraska, giant soft pretzels are eaten on New Year’s for good fortune. They’re served sliced with sweet toppings, turning them into dessert.
      In New England and Mid-Atlantic states, sourdough pretzels are common. They represent the rise of good fortune.

While practices vary, the underlying meaning remains the same. Pretzels represent hope and luck crossing over into the new year.

Example Recipes:
Neujahrsbrezel (New Year Pretzel)
Schokoladenpretzel (Chocolate Pretzels)
Neujahrspretzel (German New Year's Pretzels)
New York-Style Soft Pretzels