How to set your table for the perfect into to the New Year
Dec 21, 2024 10:50AM ● By Laura CarterYou may not be superstitious, but why tempt fate? Set your table with these traditional lucky foods on New Year's Day to attract abundance and prosperity in the year ahead.
Black Eyed Peas- Legend states that if you want to start 2025 off with good luck then Save a spot on the table for a bowl of black eyed peas. It is said that you are only required to eat 365 peas.
Greens- Any green vegetable will do but it is said that Collard Greens are the color of paper money which is meant to symbolise an upcoming year of wealth. Legend says that the collard greens that symbolise paper money pair very well with the black eyes peas which just so happen to be shaped like coins.
Corn Bread- Cornbreads golden hue and often circular shape is said to represent gold- an obvious representation of money and fortune.
Pork- Yes I know Ham is typically a holiday centerpiece but not on new years day. Pork is Specifically thought to bring good luck on new years day and here is why. So obviously pork comes from pigs and pigs are smart. According to some people it is way deeper than that. For example Chickens and turkeys scratch backwards ( we do not want to move backwards) only forwards, and pigs move forward ( in the same direction you want to head in the new year.
Onions- long ago it became a Greek tradition to Hang bags of onions over the door after realising that onions will grow anywhere even when left alone.This makes the onion the ultimate symbol of growth and rebirth, as well as a symbol of luck and fertility. So go ahead and hang a bag of onions on the door, and add them to your new year's feast.
Champagne - Okay, Let's be honest Champagne deserves a spot at the table for any and every occasion. A bottle of the “Bubbly” is seen as a sign of Luxury. In Europe drinking champagne for special occasions dates back centuries. Trendy ways to incorporate the Bubbly drink into your holiday include placing gold Jewelry at the bottom of the glass to show signs of wealth or a more fun thing to do is try jumping three times (without spilling) and then splashing the drink over your shoulder as a way of letting go of the previous year.
Noodles- in China and many other asian countries it is customary to serve noodles and eat any type of noodle on new years day. Their length longevity- so make sure you don't break or shorten your noodles.
Grapes and Fruit- In Filipino culture, New Year's Eve is traditionally celebrated with 12 types of fruit. They choose 12 specifically to symbolize each month. In Mexico, grapes are eaten at midnight to symbolize the year ahead. Throughout the world, pomegranates, a symbol of fertility and birth, are eaten at the new year. A jewel-toned slice of Pomegranate-Almond Toast is an easy and delicious way to start the New Year on the right foot.
So go ahead and set your perfect new years day table with these lucky foods to make sure you start the new year off right.