What Do Marzipan Pigs, Soba Noodles & Black-Eye Peas Have In Common?

"Just what do marzipan pigs, soba noodles and black-eye peas have in common?", you ask hungrily. Well, they all happen to be considered good luck foods for ringing in the New Year. Now, of course, I'm not suggesting these be ingested at once as that could bring bad luck, I'm thinking, anyway.

For centuries and centuries and centuries folks have been ringing in the New Year in hopes of bringing good luck for the year to come...as it turns out, good luck often translated to wealth, prosperity and a long, healthy life. Sounds good, so far! Now, how some of these foods first became good luck traditions is sometimes a bit of a mystery; however, it seems having the shape of money or a long life seemed to be a factor. Here's a quick look at New Year's foods around the world.

The Italians dine on cotechino con lenticchie, or pork sausage over lentils. Dripping in fat, the sausage represents abundance and the round, green lentils symbolize money.

The Spaniards and Portuguese celebrate New Year's by eating one grape for each of the twelve strokes of midnight, hoping for a bountiful harvest to come.

Here in the US, our southern neighbors feast on black-eye peas (no, not the hip singing group) and collard greens, believing the peas represent copper coins and the collards being green money. Further, it's said you should eat 365 peas before noon on New Year's Day to ensure good luck each day to come. Hmmm...I suppose with enough butter that could be do-able???

I know you've been waiting to hear about the marzipan pig. It seems Germans simply adore the pig. Really,--what's not to love? These fat, pink squealers have long been symbolic of good luck and fertility. So naturally, it seems the gift of a sweet, almond marzipan pig will bring good things to the beholder.

Over in Japan, the slurping of whole soba noodles and eating shrimp are believed to bring a long life.

Our Dutch friends - gotta love the Dutch - dine on oliebollen, donut-shaped fritters, believing the ring-shape symbolizes coming full circle.

While all of this dining of yummy foods is going on 'round the world, the Swiss take whipped cream and toss it on the floor -- demonstrating an abundance of wealth.

Greeks enjoy St. Basil's Cake, a sweet bread with coins baked inside -- let's hope they're chocolate coins...

So, whether you're in a sweet or savory mood to ring in the New Year there's sure to be a traditional food to bring good luck, prosperity, and a long, healthy life to your 2007!


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