12 Lucky New Year’s Foods for Health and Wealth in 2024

New Year’s celebrations typically involve symbolic foods that represent hopes for the coming year. Cultures worldwide have foods thought to bring luck, wealth, health, or other desires when eaten on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. Below are 12 classic examples and the meaning behind these fortunate foods.

Lucky New Year’s Foods

Eating certain treats on New Year’s is believed to influence how much money and prosperity one might receive in the coming year. Here are 5 classic financial foods:

Grapes

In Spanish and Italian culture, eating 12 grapes at midnight—one at each clock strike—represents hopes for prosperity in the 12 months ahead.

Black-Eyed Peas

Consuming black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day has been considered lucky in the American South since the Civil War era. The peas resemble coins and symbolize future wealth.

Pork

Because pigs root forward when foraging, pork is considered symbolic of progress. Pork dishes like roast suckling pig are enjoyed on New Year’s for luck and fortune.

Greens

Leafy greens resembling folds of money are part of traditional New Year’s meals across cultures. Collard greens, kale, cabbage, spinach or other greens attract wealth.

Cornbread

A New Year’s staple in the American South, cornbread’s golden color signifies riches and its bounty represents plenty. Other gold and yellow hued foods also promise prosperity.

Food	Region/Culture	Meaning
Grapes	Spain & Italy	12 grapes for luck in the 12 months
Black-eyed peas	American South	Resemble coins; attract wealth
Pork	Global	Symbol of progress & fortune

What Are Some Sweet & Indulgent Treats for New Year’s?

New Year’s revelries call for sweet, decadent dishes to end the old year on a high note and ensure a year filled with the finer things. Traditional desserts include:

Baklava

This rich, flaky Greek and Turkish pastry made with nuts and honey ushers in a sweet new year.

Sweet Rice Cake

In China and other Asian countries, sweet rice cakes signify tasty prospects ahead. Their round shape connotes family unity.

King Cake

The oval French galette des rois conceals a trinket or bean to crown the cake’s finder as New Year’s king or queen with a year of royal fortune.

In Scotland, a dense fruitcake called Black Bun is enjoyed New Year’s Day for three kings’ luck—and three months of wishing ahead. Round, ring-shaped cakes and breads additionally promise year-long fortune. Their circular form denotes the cycles of nature and the circular passage from old year to new.

What Are Lucky Entrées for New Year’s Dinner?

From prime rib to festive hams, entrees of abundance traditionally headline the New Year’s table. Hearty roasts and proteins forecast a robust year with life’s necessities.

Prime Rib

Standing ribs heavy with meat symbolize having everything one needs in the coming year. Prime rib in all its beefy glory is a classic luck-bringer.

Leg of Lamb

Whole lamb has long been served for important events like Easter, harvest festivals and of course, welcoming the New Year. A leg of lamb signifies stable footing in the year ahead.

Spiral-Sliced Ham

Nothing signifies opportunity more literally than a ham—with a leg up for the new year. Elaborately garnished baked hams grace many holiday and New Year’s buffets. Prosperity is the name of the game.

Whole Fish

Fish is a longtime symbol of good luck in European cultures. In Germany and Eastern Europe, carp is traditional New Year’s fare. Its silver scales connote shiny coins coming your way. 

Lobster or Prawns

Shellfish like lobster and jumbo shrimp reflect moving forward in the new year and breaking out of one’s shell, ready to embrace life. 

Oysters

One of the ultimate treats signaling good times ahead, oysters have aphrodisiac appeal plus resemble open doors of opportunity. Casseroles, seafood towers and oyster bars welcome the new year.

What Are the Most Festive Cocktails & Beverages for New Year’s?

Chilled Bubbly for Midnight Toasts & Morning Mimosas

What would New Year’s Eve be without raised glasses, cheers and kisses when the clock strikes 12? Sparkling wines like Champagne, prosecco, and Italian spumante set the celebratory mood. Their effervescence represents a bright, lively year with joie de vivre ahead.

Chilled bottles also come out New Year’s Day for brunch cocktails like orange juice & bubbly. Hair of the dog takes on renewed meaning with fizzy mimosas and bloody marys.

Hot Drinks for Warming Up & Soothing Partied-Out Throats

After outdoor fireworks displays or late-night revelry, nothing satisfies like hot beverages. Customary wassail, hot buttered rum, warm apple cider and hot toddies soothe tired party people.

Their steam seems to cleanse spirits for starting fresh. Hearty drinking chocolate, mulled wine and hot buttered rums also ward off the new year chill.

How Do Other Cultures Celebrate with Specialty New Year’s Foods & Drinks?

Japan – Soba Noodles

Long buckwheat noodle strands signify a long life. Soba noodles are slurped traditionally on New Year’s Eve in Japan.

Philippines – Round Fruits on the Menu

A dozen circular fruits are displayed to symbolize coins and prosperity. Grapes, oranges and apples adorn tables alongside stacks of pancit noodles for long life.

India – a Sweet Milk Treat Called Kheer

This pudding of rice, milk, sugar and nuts concludes celebratory New Year’s feasts in India. Kheer’s sweetness reflects hopes for a smooth year. 

Jewish Culture – Apples & Honey

The sweet new year is rung in with apples dipped in honey at Rosh Hashana. Hoping for a sweet year, breads and cakes also feature honey.

Holland – Oliebollen Fritters

Festive, fried sweets resembling doughnut holes contain rum-soaked raisins, apples or pears. Dutch revelers devour oleibollen fritters by the dozen with powdered sugar.

Are There Any Food Gifts or Baskets to Give for New Year’s?

Sharing New Year’s edibles makes excellent gestures to family, friends, clients and colleagues. Customizable gift baskets can include:

• Dried fruits and nuts
• Sweet confections like chocolate truffles
• Bakery items such as cookies, coffeecakes, panettone or fruitbread
• Breakfast packages with gourmet coffee, tea, pancake mix and maple syrup
• Canned soups and luxury foodstuffs like olive oils, vinegars, sauces, relishes, etc.
• Wine and spirits like Champagne, craft beer, liqueurs, cider, etc.
• Cheeses, crackers, meats, olives, pickled goods for appetizer trays
• Spices, rubs, mixes for preparing lucky New Year’s dishes
• Tea, cider and cocoa assortments for warming up after winter celebrations
• High-end items like smoked salmon, caviar, pate, etc.

Gift baskets can also contain useful extras like candles, flowers, ceramics, glassware, calendars or planners.