Lucky Foods for the New Year
For many, January offers an opportunity to forget the past and make a clean start. But instead of leaving everything up to fate, why not enjoy a meal to increase your good fortune? There are a variety of foods that are believed to be lucky and to improve the odds that next year will be a great one. The six major categories of auspicious foods are grapes, greens, fish, pork, legumes, and cakes.
Grapes
New Year's revelers in Spain consume twelve grapes at midnight-one grape for each stroke of the clock. The goal is to swallow all the grapes before the last stroke of midnight.
Cooked Greens
Cooked greens, including cabbage, collards, kale, and chard, are consumed for a simple reason - their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune. It's widely believed that the more greens one eats the larger one's fortune next year.
Legumes
Legumes including beans, peas, and lentils are also symbolic of money. Their small, seedlike appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind.
Pork
The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Also, thanks to its rich fat content, pork also signifies wealth and prosperity.
Fish
Fish is a very logical choice for the New Year's table. Long before refrigeration and modern transportation, cod could be preserved and transported allowing it to reach the Mediterranean and even as far as North Africa and the Caribbean.
Cakes, Etc.
Cakes and other baked goods are commonly served with a special emphasis placed on round or ring-shaped items.
What Not to Eat
In addition to the aforementioned lucky foods, there are also a few to avoid. Lobster, for instance, is a bad idea because they move backwards and could therefore lead to setbacks. Chicken is also discouraged because the bird scratches backwards, which could cause regret or dwelling on the past. Another theory warns against eating any winged fowl because good luck could fly away.
Just remember to eat healthy and in moderation.
It's that time of year again where about 50% of us make New Year's resolutions. Usually they are something large like losing weight, quitting smoking, saving money, etc. The daunting nature of a large resolution can make it difficult to achieve, and then you are left feeling frustrated or mad at yourself for failing.
