New Year's Around the World

To ensure a prosperous and healthy New Year, Americans in the South eat Hoppin’John (a stew of black-eyed peas and rice.

In Mexico, a large fruit centerpiece graces the New Year’s table. At midnight, each guest eats 12 grapes, to welcome the 12 months of the new year.

In Switzerland, godparents traditionally inserted a coin into a Zupfe (a milk-bread loaf) and presented it to their godchildren for good luck in the new year.

In Germany, Karpfen (carp) is served whole; each guest removes a scale and keeps it for good luck. In Berlin, the quest for luck goes even further. To bring about good fortune, locals eat Berliner Pfannkuchen (jelly doughnuts) with wine punch in the first five minutes of the new year.

In Brazil, eating pomegranates is a New Year’s must. The Brazilians believe that the many seeds symbolize wealth for the future.

Italians eat Cotechino (rich pork sausage) with lentils, which are thought to resemble small coins. The more lentils one eats, the richer one will be in the new year. Cappelletti (small heads of pasta filled with cheese and nutmeg similar to tortellini) in capon broth is thought to soothe the stomach, and is traditionally served to those revelers who celebrated a little too much while ringing in the new year.

Hungarians eat roast suckling pig, putting an apple in its mouth and a four-leaf clover in its snout for luck.

In a traditional Moroccan New Year celebration, Herbel (crushed wheat with milk) is eaten as a symbol of prosperity for the coming year. Graif Mekhtamrine-a pancake that inflates when heated-is also served. The bursting of the pancake symbolizes wealth and happiness.

In Greece, a coin is inserted through a small slit in the bottom of Vasilopita (New Year’s bread). The bread is sliced at midnight, and the person who finds the coin has luck for the coming year.