Celebrating the new year is all about feeling hopeful and festive. People usually get together to celebrate new year’s eve and have fun.
But even though people around the world celebrate the new year pretty much the same way (fireworks, party, countdown, and stuff like that), some countries has their own traditional dish that they always enjoy in hope for new year’s prosperity, long life, abundance, and even good luck!
Here are some new year’s food tradition around the globe.
1. Soba Noodles (Japan)
First, on this list we have Japan. Every midnight on New Year’s Eve, Japanese households usually eat buckwheat noodles which is called soba noodles or toshikoshi soba.
They eat soba noodles at midnight on New Year’s Eve as a symbol of bidding farewell to the year gone by and welcoming the year to come.
This tradition has existed since the 17th century. The long soba noodles symbolize longevity and prosperity.
2. Tamales (Mexico)
For you who doesn’t know about this food, Tamales is basically corn dough stuffed with meat, cheese, and other scrumptious additional ingredients and wrapped in a banana leaf or a corn husk.
We can usually see Tamales not only on new year celebrations but also at pretty much every special occasion in Mexico.
In the holiday season, groups of women will gather to make hundreds of Tamales. They will later hand them out to friends, family, and neighbors.
Usually, on the new year, Tamales will be served with Menudo, a tripe and hominy soup. This soup is extremely famous for curing hangovers.
3. Oliebollen (Netherlands)
Moving on to the Netherlands. In this country, people would enjoy oliebollen on New Year’s Eve and at special celebratory fairs. We can see oliebollen sold by street carts called Oliebollenkraams.
Oliebollen are basically dumplings with a doughnut-like texture. They were made by dropping a scoop of dough spiked with currants or raisins, put them into a deep fryer, and then dust them with powdered sugar.
4. Pickled Herring (Poland and Scandinavia)
We can find a huge amount of herring in Poland and some parts of Scandinavia. This fish has silver coloring to them, and because of that, many people in those countries eat pickled herring at midnight on New Year’s Eve in the hope of prosperity and bounty on the upcoming year. Some of them eat pickled herring with cream sauce, and some of them have it with onions.
One unique tradition related to this dish is the Polish New Year’s Eve preparation of pickled herring which is called Sledzie Marynowane.
In this tradition, people would make pickled herrings by soaking whole salt herrings in water for 24 hours and then layer them in a jar with onions, allspice, sugar, and white vinegar.
Meanwhile, in Scandinavia, people will often include herring in a larger midnight smorgasbord with smoked and pickled fish, pate, and meatballs.
5. Marzipanschwein or Glücksschwein (Austria and Germany)
What is a holiday without sweets? Austria and Germany celebrate New Year’s Eve by making little pigs made of marzipan.
In Austria, they call it Marzipanschwein, meanwhile, in Germany, they call it Glücksschwein. These little pigs are considered as good luck pigs and commonly handed out as gifts in both countries.
People in Austria and Germany call New Year’s Eve as Sylvesterabend which means “The Eve of Saint Sylvester”. Austrians usually drink a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices.
They would also eat suckling pig for dinner, and then decorate their tables with marzipanschwein during new year celebration.
6. Cotechino con lenticchie (Italy)
Try pronouncing those words! Cotechino con lenticchie is a new year dish from Italy. This dish is a sausage and lentil stew.
Italians believe that eating Cotechino con lenticchie on New Year’s Eve will bring them good luck, as the lentils represent money and good fortune.
People in Italy will celebrate New Year’s Eve with La Festa di San Silvestro, where they consume the traditional cotechino con lenticchie, and end the meal with chiacchiere.
Chiacchiere is fried dough balls rolled in honey, powdered sugar, and prosecco. These dishes were originally from Modena, but now it is enjoyed as the New Year’s Eve feasts across the country.
7. Kransekage (Denmark and Norway)
Last but not least, we have Kransekage. Kransekage, which literally means wreath cake, is a cake tower built with rings of cake layered atop one another.
This cake is usually made for and enjoyed on New Year’s Eve and other special occasions both in Denmark and Norway.
The cake itself is made using marzipan, a bottle of wine, or Aquavit in the center, and people would decorate them with ornaments, flags, and crackers.
So, which dish did you like the most? Or do you have your own favorite dish for new year? Let us know in the comment section below!