New Year’s Food Trends and Traditions

As we head into the new year, people all around the world have traditions that they follow, such as making a resolution for the new year, smashing a plate or wearing certain colors for good luck, or opening all the doors and windows to let the old year out. No matter the tradition, at Grico’s, we believe that the best ones involve food. Let’s check some out.

12 Grapes at the Stroke of Midnight

In several countries, such as Spain and Italy, it is a common practice to eat 12 grapes for good luck. At the stroke of midnight, a person has until the clock stops chiming to consume all 12 grapes; each grape represents a month in the upcoming year and if someone should fail to consume all the grapes before the clock stops, it’s said that they risk facing misfortune.

Round Foods Passed ‘Round the Table

Another common tradition is enjoying round foods. It is believed that eating round foods like fruits and vegetables will lead to a prosperous new year. Round cakes are often also served as they represent the circle of life.

In Italy, lentils can be found on many dinner tables as their shape resembles ancient coins, which represents prosperity. In the Philippines, round fruits such as oranges, grapefruit, kiwi, and blueberries are the centerpiece of the meal and it is customary to eat 12, one for each month of the year. In Greece, pomegranates are the fruit of choice. They are thrown across the ground and the fallen seeds are meant to represent fertility, life, and abundance. 

During Chinese New Year, oranges are given and eaten as symbols of good fortune and wealth. Uncut noodles are also a large part of the new year as they represent longevity and long life.

Bread Breaking Bad

While many are consuming delicious treats and snacks on New Year’s Day, the Irish are doing something completely different. The traditional way to start off the new year in Ireland is to take loaves of bread and bang them against the walls of your home. This is said to drive out the bad spirits, leaving a clean slate for the new year.

Hidden Luck

In several countries, desserts are served with a special token inside. Whoever finds the token is believed to have good luck in the coming year. In Greece, the token is often a gold coin hidden inside vasilopita, which is a sweet bread. In Scandinavia, the token is usually an almond hidden in pudding.

New Year, New Traditions at Grico’s

So many people around the world have traditions to celebrate the new year and it can be difficult to choose just one to participate in. Why not create your own tradition by making a reservation at Grico’s? We offer classic cuisine served to make you feel as if you were one of the family. Make your reservation today.