When I was growing up, every year on New Year’s Day we would have black-eyed peas for dinner (yes, it’s an actual food, not just a hip/hop group). Black-eyed peas aka black-eyed beans are a legume and get their name from their appearance (a pale color with a black spot in the middle). My mother was born and raised in Alabama, and she said it was a family tradition that eating black-eyed peas for New Year’s Day would bring you good luck throughout the coming year.
Cultures around the world have their own foods that are a version of this story and here I’ve compiled a few of the foods that I find to be interesting or just plain yummy. Try making a few yourself and start your own New Year tradition!
Black-Eyed Peas
As I mentioned my mother was from Alabama, but black-eyed peas are eaten all over the southern United States for New Year's Day (and just about every other celebration). This is a recipe for Hoppin’ John, a traditional dish from the South. Hoppin’ John is a tasty combination of bacon, onions, spices, rice, and black-eyed peas, and takes about 1-1/2 hours to cook. Some cooks will add a ham hock to the mix, and it is usually served with collard greens.
Grapes
This one comes to us from sunny Spain. The tradition is to eat a grape at each stroke of midnight; each grape is representative of the upcoming months. But look out if you get a sour grape! That’s the month that will give you trouble, according to custom.
The King’s Cake
This is a tradition that spans the globe. The ‘cakes’ are usually eaten at midnight and usually resemble more of a folded pastry dish like a calzone, rather than a cake. In Bulgaria, the dish is called a Banitsa and is made by layering eggs, cheese, and yogurt that have been mixed between sheets of filo pastry. The French version is called a Gateau and the Greek version is a Vasilopita. In Christian tradition, the King’s Cake is eaten on January 6, in honor of Epiphany.
Pickled Herring
In parts of Scandinavia and Poland eating pickled herring at midnight is said to bring a year of abundance and prosperity. Some say it's because of the silver color of the fish, representing wealth but it's more likely because there is a lot of it to be had!
Kransekage
This cake (the name which means ‘wealth cake’) is a Norwegian tradition and was introduced to most of us through The Great British Baking Show (I think it was series 5?). The cake is made up of concentric circles made from Marzipan, which is a confection of sugar or honey and almond meal. The tiers are decorated with national flags and ornaments and can contain a bottle of wine in the center.
Soba Noodles
I just love a good bowl of Soba noodles, which is the favorite food of Japan for the New Year. Slurping the noodles loudly is supposed to bring a life of fulfillment and help to say goodbye to the old year and hello to the new. Mochi is another treat made on New Year’s Eve by pounding sweet rice into a paste and shaping it into the desired shape. But be careful! Mochi can easily become stuck in the throat and cause suffocation (just make sure to chew it really well).
Lentils
Lentils are popular in many countries on New Year’s Eve and Day because of their resemblance to coins, which is associated with prosperity. In Nigeria, they are called Adalu and are made into tasty soups and fritters. Here is a yummy recipe for Lentil Soup that has just the right amount of kick for the New Year!
Food has been an important part of our celebrations literally all around the world, for centuries. Food can give us strength, bring us together, and unite us. No matter where your family is from, there’s sure to be a food tradition for New Year’s Day that has been handed down through the years, that you can make your own and share with family and friends.
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