France
A traditional dîner de reveillon in France includes oysters, foie gras, and saumon fumé (smoked salmon). Smoked salmon is delicious with bread, crepes, or in a terrine. It's belived that drinking champagne as the clock strikes twelve also orginated in France sometime after the revolution. (For an alcohol-free celebration, you can try the non-alcoholic sparkling wines we now stock!)
Germany
Mitternachtssuppe, or midnight soup, is a hearty, paprika-laced ground beef stew similar to chili.
Greece
Vasilopita, is a New Year's Day bread or cake which contains a hidden coin or trinket which gives good luck to the receiver. It is made of a variety of dough, depending on regional and family tradition. The pie is also known as Chronópita (New Year's Pie).
Try a traditional or vegan version.
Haiti
In Haiti, New Year's Day is also the day the nation celebrates its independence from France. Soup Joumou was previously a dish prepared by enslaved Haitian people for their colonial rulers, and became a symbol of freedom when it could be enjoyed by the citizens of Haiti
Italy
The pork sausage and lentil dish Lenticchie & Cotechino is an Italian cousin of Hoppin' John and shares its promise of good fortune.
Japan
There's conflicting theories behind the tradition of eating Toshikoshi Soba on New Year's Eve, and no set ingredients other than soba (buckwheat noodles). Here's one take on "year-passing" noodles.
Korea
The Korean new year festival of Seollal won't be celebrated until Febuary 10th in 2024, but the traditional sliced rice cake soup tteokguk is served year-round as well as being a must-have on New Year's. Try a recipe for one version here.
Spain
Since the late 19th Century, celebrants in Spain have raced to eat 12 grapes along with the 12 chimes of midnight. We'd rather take our time with these holiday-perfect Champagne Jellies with Grapes.
Türkiye
The abundant, jewel-like seeds of a pomegranate symbolize prosperity. Send prosperity flying your way in the tradtional method by smashing a pomegranate against your doorstep at the stroke of midnight, or keep the mess to a minimum by serving a dish with pomgranate seeds like this Winter Citrus Salad.
USA
Hoppin’ John is made with black-eyed peas and rice, chopped onion, and pork, often bacon. (You can also enjoy our vegan version.) Eating Hoppin' John on New Year's Day is thought to bring a prosperous year, with the peas symbolizing coins.
Leafy greens are often served alongside to represent paper money- Collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens, chard, kale, and cabbage are all used.
Golden-colored cornbread completes the symbolic trio (and you can even leave some whole kernels in the batter to represent gold nuggets).