It’s
a New Year once again! It’s the time when families and friends get together
and celebrate. But do know what to serve your guests especially when they come
from different countries? Here are tip on what people with different customs eat
to celebrate the New Year!
·
Eating noodles at midnight is customary at Buddhist temples in Japan.
·
It is a Cuban tradition to eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight. The
12 grapes signify the last twelve months of the year.
·
German folklore says that eating herring at the stroke of midnight will
bring luck for the next year.
·
Eating pickled herring as the first bite of the New Year brings good luck
to those of Polish descent.
·
In the southern United States, it is believed eating black-eyed peas on
New Year's Eve will bring luck for the coming year.
·
Also from the south comes the custom of eating greens such as cabbage,
collard greens, mustard greens, kale or spinach to bring money.
·
One
more from the Southerners: eating cornbread will bring wealth.
·
The Southern custom of eating greens can be found in other cultures as
well, although the cabbage can take many forms, such as sauerkraut or even
kimchee.
·
In the Philippines, it is important to have food on the table at midnight
in order to insure an abundance of food in the upcoming year.
·
Boiled Cod is a New Year's Eve must in Denmark.
·
Olie Bollen, a donut-like
fritter, is popular in Holland for New Year.
·
Black-eyed peas, fish,
apples, and beets are eaten for luck at the Jewish New Year's celebration (not
celebrated on Jan 1).