Traditional New Year’s Food Around the World

Sancocho – Dominican Republic

In the Dominican Republic, sancocho, a hearty meat and vegetable stew, is often prepared for New Year’s celebrations. The dish is a symbol of abundance and unity, with its rich flavors and communal preparation bringing people together.

Tamales – Mexico

A dish of cornmeal stuffed with meat, cheese, and other spices wrapped in banana leaves or corn husks, appears on almost every special occasion in Mexico. In many homes, groups of women gather together to make hundreds of small packages of cakes to give to friends, family, and neighbors. On New Year’s Day, it’s usually served with menudo, the famous bovine and hominy soup for drunken people.

People living in cities with a large Mexican population will not have much trouble finding restaurants that sell tamales to eat out on New Year’s Day and Eve. In Mexico City, steamed tamales are hawked on street corners day and night.

Hoppin’ John – South America

An important New Year’s culinary tradition in the American South is Hoppin’ John – a dish of peas or black-eyed peas (symbolizing the coin) served with pork and rice. People enjoy Hoppin’ John with bok choy or other cooked greens (because they are money-colored) and tortillas (yellow). Indeed, the dish is said to bring good luck in the new year.

In fact, the recipe for Hoppin’ John appeared as early as 1847 in Sarah Rutledge’s book The Carolina Housewoman and has been used for centuries.

Greens and Cornbread – United States

In the Southern United States, a traditional New Year’s meal often includes greens (such as collard greens, mustard greens, or turnip greens) and cornbread. The greens are believed to represent paper money, while the cornbread symbolizes gold, both aiming to bring prosperity in the coming year.

Marzipanschwein or Glücksschwein – Austria and Germany

These two countries call New Year’s Eve Sylvesterabend or Saint Sylvester’s Eve. The Austrians would drink red wine with cinnamon and spices, eat suckling pigs for dinner, and decorate the table with marzipan piglets, called Marzipanschwein. Lucky pig, or Glücksschwein, made with many ingredients, is also a traditional New Year’s dish in Germany.

Banitsa – Bulgaria

In Bulgaria, Banitsa is a traditional pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with cheese, eggs, and butter. It is often prepared with fortune slips baked inside. Each slip contains a small fortune for the year ahead. The pastry is enjoyed during New Year’s celebrations, bringing good luck and prosperity.

Kransekage – Denmark and Norway

Kransekage means garland cake. It is a cake tower with many cake rings stacked on top of each other. The cake is for New Year’s Eve and other special occasions in Denmark and Norway. The main ingredient is marzipan, usually with a bottle of wine or Aquavit in the middle, and can be decorated with decorations such as flags or crackers.

Cabbage Rolls – Eastern Europe

In various Eastern European countries, cabbage rolls (often filled with meat and rice) are a traditional New Year’s dish. The rolls are thought to symbolize prosperity and wealth for the coming year due to their resemblance to bundles of money.

King Cake – France

In France, the Galette des Rois (King Cake) is enjoyed during the New Year and Epiphany. This delicious cake is filled with almond cream and contains a small hidden figurine called “fève.”

Vasilopita – Greece

Vasilopita is a traditional Greek New Year’s cake baked with a coin hidden inside. The cake is sliced at midnight, and whoever finds the coin in their slice is believed to have good luck for the coming year. The cake is often flavored with oranges and almonds.

Cotechino con lenticchie – Italy

Italians celebrate New Year’s Eve with the traditional cotechino con lenticchie, a stew of sausage or ham and lentils believed to bring good luck (lentils represent money and luck).

Oliebollen – Netherlands

“Fried balls”, or Oliebollen, are sold by street carts and are a traditional dish on New Year’s Eve and at fairs in the Netherlands. These are donut-like dumplings, made by dropping a scoop of dough covered with grapes or raisins in a deep fryer, then sprinkling powdered sugar on top.

Bigos – Poland

Bigos, also known as hunter’s stew, is a traditional Polish dish made with sauerkraut, fresh cabbage, various meats, and sausages. It is often enjoyed during the New Year’s festivities and symbolizes abundance and nourishment for the year ahead.

Salted Herring – Poland and Scandinavia

Herring is abundant in Poland and some parts of Scandinavia. Because of their silver color, many people in these countries eat pickled herring at midnight to bring about a year of prosperity and abundance. Some eat herring soaked in cream sauce or with onions.

Moreover, a special Polish preparation of salted herring for New Year’s Eve, called Sledzie Marynowane. It is made by soaking whole salted herring in water for 24 hours and then placing them in a jar with onions, pepper, sugar, and white vinegar. Scandinavians often eat herring at a midnight feast of pickled smoked fish, pate, and meatballs.

Rabanadas – Portugal

Rabanadas is a traditional Portuguese dessert similar to French toast. It consists of stale bread soaked in a mixture of milk and eggs, fried, and then dusted with cinnamon and sugar. Rabanadas is enjoyed during Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, symbolizing warmth and comfort.

12 Grapes – Spain

Traditionally, Spaniards watch the broadcast from the Puerta del Sol in Madrid, where people gather in front of the square’s clock tower to welcome the new year. Those outside the square and those watching at home participate in an annual tradition. At midnight, they ate one grape for every tick of the clock. This custom began in the early 20th century and is believed to have been devised by grape producers in the south of the country to bring good luck with a good harvest. Since then, the tradition has spread to many Spanish-speaking countries.

Pomegranate – Turkey

In Turkey, pomegranates are a symbol of abundance and fertility. On New Year’s Eve, it is a tradition to smash a pomegranate on the ground or in front of the house to bring good luck and prosperity for the coming year. The more seeds that scatter, the more good fortune is expected.

Rauchfleisch – Switzerland

In Switzerland, Rauchfleisch, which is smoked and cured meat, is often enjoyed during New Year’s festivities. It is usually served with potatoes and sauerkraut, symbolizing good fortune and abundance for the coming year.

Ashure – Turkey

Ashure, also known as Noah’s Pudding, is a traditional Turkish dessert enjoyed during various celebrations, including the New Year. It is made with a mixture of grains, fruits, and nuts, and is sweetened with sugar and flavored with spices. Ashure symbolizes unity and the sharing of abundance, as it is often made in large quantities and distributed to neighbors and friends.

Baklava – Turkey and Greece

Baklava, a rich and sweet pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and sweetened with honey or syrup. It is enjoyed in Turkey and Greece during New Year celebrations. Baklava symbolizes sweetness and joy, making it a perfect treat to start the new year.

Dumplings – China

In China, dumplings (jiaozi) are traditionally eaten during the Lunar New Year celebrations. However, they are also enjoyed during the Western New Year. Shaped like ancient Chinese silver ingots, dumplings symbolize wealth and prosperity. They are often filled with meat, vegetables, and sometimes even a coin for extra luck.

Kuih Lapis – Indonesia

Kuih Lapis, or layered cake, is a traditional Indonesian dessert enjoyed during Chinese New Year and other celebrations. The colorful layers of the cake represent the hope for a multicolored, prosperous year ahead. The cake is made from rice flour, coconut milk, and sugar, and is steamed layer by layer.

Soba Noodles – Japan

In Japan, eating buckwheat soba noodles, or toshikoshi soba, at midnight on New Year’s Eve to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the coming new. In fact, it is a tradition from the 17th century. The long noodles symbolize longevity and prosperity.

Read more: Exploring Japanese Cuisine, the Foods You Can’t Miss

Yu Sheng – Singapore and Malaysia

Yu Sheng, also known as Prosperity Toss Salad, is a traditional dish enjoyed during Chinese New Year in Singapore and Malaysia. The salad consists of raw fish slices, mixed with shredded vegetables, and a variety of sauces and condiments. The ingredients are symbolically tossed high in the air with chopsticks while everyone chants auspicious wishes, to bring prosperity and good fortune.

Tteokguk – South Korea

Tteokguk is a traditional Korean soup made with sliced rice cakes, beef, and vegetables. It is eaten on New Year’s Day and symbolizes gaining a year in age, as well as bringing good luck and health. The chewy rice cakes are thought to represent longevity and prosperity.

Banh Chung – Vietnam

Banh Chung is a traditional Vietnamese rice cake prepared for Tết (Vietnamese New Year). The cake is made of glutinous rice, mung beans, and pork. Then, it is wrapped in banana leaves in a square shape. It symbolizes the Earth and represents the harmony between heaven and earth.

Barbecued Meat – Australia

In Australia, New Year’s celebrations often include a traditional barbecue. Aussies gather with family and friends to enjoy a variety of grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables, symbolizing the laid-back and communal lifestyle of the country.

Pavlova – Australia and New Zealand

In Australia and New Zealand, Pavlova, a meringue-based dessert topped with fresh fruits and whipped cream, is a popular festive treat. While it is often associated with Christmas, it is also enjoyed during New Year celebrations, symbolizing sweetness and joy.

Poisson Cru – French Polynesia

Poisson Cru, or “raw fish” in French, is a traditional dish in French Polynesia, particularly enjoyed during New Year celebrations. This dish consists of raw tuna marinated in lime juice and mixed with coconut milk and diced vegetables, symbolizing freshness and purity.

Panipopo – Samoa

Panipopo, or coconut buns, are a traditional Samoan treat often enjoyed during festive celebrations, including New Year. These soft buns are baked in sweet coconut milk, creating a delicious and comforting dessert.

Harissa – Armenia

In Armenia, Harissa is a traditional dish made with wheat berries and meat, usually chicken or lamb. It is slow-cooked to create a thick, porridge-like consistency. Harissa is enjoyed during New Year celebrations and symbolizes resilience and the ability to overcome hardships.

Sabzi Polo Mahi – Iran

In Iran, Nowruz, the Persian New Year, is celebrated with a variety of traditional dishes. One of the most significant is Sabzi Polo Mahi, which consists of herbed rice served with fried fish. Indeed, the herbs (sabzi) symbolize rebirth and the fish represents life. This dish is enjoyed during the Nowruz festivities to welcome the new year with health and prosperity.

Sufganiyot – Israel

During Hanukkah, which often falls around New Year’s, Israelis enjoy Sufganiyot, which are jelly-filled doughnuts. These delicious treats are deep-fried in oil, symbolizing the miracle of the oil that burned for eight days in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Sfeeha – Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan

Sfeeha, also known as Lahm bi Ajeen, is a traditional Middle Eastern meat pie enjoyed in Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan during New Year celebrations. These small, open-faced pies are topped with ground lamb or beef, onions, tomatoes, and spices. Sfeeha represents hospitality and the sharing of good food with loved ones.

Kibbeh – Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine

Kibbeh is a traditional dish made from bulgur wheat, minced onions, and finely ground lean beef, lamb, or goat, with Middle Eastern spices. It is often enjoyed during New Year celebrations in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine. Kibbeh represents hospitality and the sharing of good food with family and friends.

Tagine – Morocco

In Morocco, Tagine is a traditional dish enjoyed during New Year celebrations. This slow-cooked stew is made with meat, vegetables, and a variety of spices, often including dried fruits and nuts. The tagine pot used for cooking symbolizes warmth and hospitality.

Fufu and Egusi Soup – Nigeria

In Nigeria, Fufu and Egusi Soup is a staple dish for New Year celebrations. Specifically, Fufu, a dough-like food made from cassava, yams, or plantains, is paired with Egusi Soup, which is made from melon seeds, leafy greens, and spices. This hearty meal represents unity and prosperity.

Chakalaka and Pap – South Africa

Chakalaka and Pap is a popular dish in South Africa, especially during festive occasions like New Year. It is a spicy vegetable relish made with onions, tomatoes, carrots, and beans, while Pap is a maize porridge. This dish is a symbol of unity and celebration.