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| Monday, December 29, 2008 |
| Traditional New Year’s Foods |
Since I first moved to North Florida 11 years ago, I have kept a New Year’s food tradition. Every New Year’s Eve I cook black eye peas for good luck in the coming year. I cook them with smoked pork hocks and ham as the hog symbolizes prosperity. Wherever I go on the first day of the year, I carry a container of these lucky beans. Everybody I see has to eat some as I wish them a Happy New Year. Over the years I’ve added more symbolic foods to ensure that I get all the luck possible on my side. I now cook “greens” to bring me money. Cabbage leaves, kale, collards, mustard greens and spinach are considered a sign of prosperity as they resemble the paper currency. Last year I added 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight to represent each month and have been wearing yellow underwear on the 1st of the year for good luck. Sounds odd? Maybe, but it makes for great conversation.
Here are a few example of how different cultures welcome the New Year:- Many cultures believe that anything round or in the shape of a ring brings good luck as it symbolizes “coming full circle” and completing a year’s cycle. The Dutch eat a donut like fritters on New Year’s Day to bring good fortune.
- It’s lentils and pork in Brazil and Italy. Lentils because they look like coins and sliced pork sausages are added to increase the “wealth” power, since pork signifies abundance.
- In the Southern part of the U.S. they eat black eyed peas cooked with ham or smoked pork hocks. The peas bring good luck and the pork prosperity. Corn bread also brings prosperity because of its “gold” color.
- Green leafy vegetables like collard greens, mustard greens, cabbage and spinach are eaten on New Years day as they symbolize money. Any of these greens are eaten in the South, sauerkraut is eaten among the Germans and Dutch and “kimchee” is eaten by Koreans.
- A German/Pennsylvania Dutch tradition is to eat pork and sauerkraut on New Years Day for good luck.
- In Bosnia and Croatia they eat “Sarma” which is beef tightly wrapped in cabbage to bring good luck in health and wealth for the upcoming year.
- In Vietnam watermelon is a sign of good fortune because of its red flesh.
- In Spain, Portugal, Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba, it's tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve to represent the twelve months.
- In the Philippines, it’s important to have food on the table at midnight in order to insure prosperity and good financial status for the New Year. They also collect 7 different round fruits; 7 because it’s believed to be a lucky number and round as it signifies money.
- In Japanese Buddhist temples, they eat noodles at midnight.
- In Denmark, they eat boiled cod on New Year’s Eve.
And lastly, a New Year’s Eve non food tradition among the Japanese is once the house is thoroughly cleaned and rid of the negative spirit, they hang bamboo sticks on the front door for growth and prosperity.
What are your traditions for ringing in the New Year?
Happy New Year to all of you! May this New Year be filled with health, love, happiness, prosperity and tons of laugher!
- JoseeLabels: Holiday Eating, holiday ideas, Josee
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posted by My Sensei @ Monday, December 29, 2008   |
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