Welcome to a cultural feast of New Year’s meals from around the world. Each dish has a unique meaning and tradition behind it. Let’s explore them together!
12 Grapes in Spain
01.
Eat one grape for each stroke of midnight to bring good luck for the next 12 months. Watch out for sour grapes, though!
Rosca de Reyes in Mexico
02.
This ring-shaped bread is decorated with fruit, nuts and sugar. It has a hidden baby Jesus figurine inside. Whoever finds it must host a feast on February 2.
Tteokguk in South Korea
03.
This soup is made of broth, rice cakes, meat and vegetables. You can’t be a year older until you eat it. It symbolizes good luck and longevity.
Raw Egg in El Salvador
04.
Crack an egg into a glass of water a minute before midnight. The shape of the yolk the next morning will reveal your fortune for the year ahead.
Lentils in Italy
05.
Lentils look like coins, so they represent prosperity and wealth. They are often served with pork sausage or trotter to add more richness and flavor.
Pomegranate in Turkey
06.
Smash a pomegranate on your doorstep at midnight to bring abundance and fertility. The more seeds, the better!
Soba Noodles in Japan
07.
These long and thin noodles signify the crossing from one year to the next. They are easy to cut, so they also symbolize letting go of the past.
Cotechino con Lenticchie in Brazil
08.
This dish is similar to the Italian one, but with a twist. The pork sausage is wrapped in a pig’s skin, which represents abundance.
Oliebollen in the Netherlands
09.
These are deep-fried dough balls dusted with powdered sugar. They are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.