Foods that bring... luck at the beginning of the year!

Grapes are considered a lucky food for the New Year - Photo: TTD

1.Green vegetables. Eating dark green vegetables is very meaningful in the new year. Many countries from America to Europe believe that dark green leaves such as spinach, cabbage, and collard greens often have the shape of folded money and this symbolizes wealth and good luck in terms of economics, so the more you eat, the better. In terms of medicine, green vegetables provide us with a lot of fiber, chlorophyll, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals that help prevent intestinal diseases and cancer.

2.Lentils. In Italy, there is a special dish called Cotechini Con Lenticchie that people enjoy on New Year's Eve. It is a mixture of lentils and sausages and it is believed that the lentils resemble small coins, so this dish can bring wealth and prosperity in the new year. The lentils swell when soaked and cooked, which means increasing wealth. Lentils also provide us with a lot of healthy protein.

3.Noodles. If you have ever attended a Chinese festival, you will always see noodles (especially egg noodles), because this dish symbolizes longevity, but remember to leave the noodles long and do not cut them short when cooking.

4.Pomegranate. The Turks believe that eating red pomegranate seeds and drinking sweet red pomegranate juice on New Year's Day is extremely lucky. The red color of pomegranates symbolizes the blood of the heart and the circulation of blood in the body, symbolizing life and endless growth and prosperity. Similar to pomegranates, red apples shaped like hearts also symbolize love and prosperity, and apple cider is often drunk on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. Europeans enjoy sweet figs in desserts after meals, also believing in economic prosperity (figs have many small seeds inside). Pomegranates, apples, and figs are all fruits that provide the body with a lot of fiber, trace minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants that are great for protecting cardiovascular health, preventing many diseases, and fighting cancer.

Noodles with fresh fish salad and colorful vegetables and fruits are lucky dishes on Chinese New Year - Photo: TTD

5.Fish is considered one of the luckiest foods for the new year. In many cultures, silver fish and fish with shiny skin are believed to bring good luck, wealth and prosperity. Fish that lay many eggs means abundance, so many ethnic groups often enjoy seafood dishes during the New Year. The Chinese make fish dumplings. Many countries enjoy grilled fish for lunch (but it must be the whole fish without throwing away any part). Fish is considered lucky for three reasons: first, because the fish scales are often shaped like coins, symbolizing wealth; second, because fish swim in schools, symbolizing prosperity; and third, they swim forward, symbolizing progress, advancement and development. In addition, eating fish also gives us a lot of protein, fish fat or fish liver oil provides us with many unsaturated fatty acids that do not increase blood fat but also help prevent cholesterol and cardiovascular disease.

6.Nuts, such as green beans, white beans, red beans, peas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, peach kernels, chestnuts..., of which chestnuts are a symbol of new life and are often used as gifts in the new year with the meaning of wishing your family a lucky start. They are often stuffed into Christmas cakes, sprinkled on many desserts and other dishes. In some countries, people often make a special cake with many types of nuts and put a real coin inside so that when cut and eaten, they will see the coin, which is a good omen and brings fortune for the new year. Cakes are often prepared in a round shape, a symbol of prosperity and continuous development.

7.Citrus fruits. These deep yellow fruits are traditionally considered symbols of wealth, prosperity, happiness and good fortune in Chinese culture. They are often harvested in the last months of the year and to celebrate the New Year. Eating these fruits also contributes to good health, protects blood vessels and prevents many malignant diseases.

8.Cereals. Certain cereals, including rice, quinoa and barley, play a special role in the holidays and are considered to bring good luck to the homeowner. Traditionally in some countries around the world, rice is the dish that we should eat on New Year's Day to bring good luck. In Indian mythology, when rice is cooked, it absorbs all the water and swells, bringing both bad and bad omens to the new life, so rice is used in many religious ceremonies in India.

9.Grapes. In countries like Cuba, Portugal and Spain, sweet grapes are considered a lucky food for the new year. Some places follow the custom of eating one grape every hour on the last day of the year to bring good luck, while others eat 12 grapes at once on New Year's Eve to bring good luck for the 12 months of the new year. Grapes contain many active polyphenols that protect cells, fight oxidation and boost the immune system.

10.Corn. Making corn bread is a popular New Year's tradition in the United States. The bright yellow color of the corn kernels is known as a symbol of gold. The more kernels there are, the more luck we will have in the new year. Corn kernels provide us with zeaxanthin, which is good for our eyes and vision, and helps prevent macular degeneration in older people.

11.Pork, is the main dish of choice on New Year's Day in many countries around the world, including Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Austria, Sweden, Germany, Italy and the United States. Some believe that pigs are lucky because their high fat content represents prosperity and wealth. The best dishes to serve on New Year's Day are a roasted pig or a pig roast as well.

12.Round or ring-shaped cakes such as cakes, donuts, and muffins are both sweet and symbolize circulation and continuous growth.