6 Foods to Celebrate New Year's Day
December 24, 2012
•Emily Murray
•San Francisco
• 0 Comments
6 Foods to Celebrate New Year's Day
The start of a new year symbolizes a new beginning with endless possibilities. For many, eating traditional foods on the first of the year ensures this fresh start is full of health, wealth and good luck. These traditions can be seen everywhere from California culinary schools to tables in faraway countries. In fact colleges for culinary arts teach many of these traditional New Year’s basics to their students.
Black-Eyed Peas
This traditional Southern dish is believed to mean good luck and prosperity. The tiny bean also expands when cooked, symbolizing potential growth in wealth. While black-eyed peas tend to be the most popular of the legumes, other peas and lentils are often consumed as well.
Greens
Leafy greens represent fortune and money. The deep green color and crispness of the vegetable are reminiscent of new dollar bills. Some prefer to sauté collard greens for their meal, while others enjoy fresh kale or cabbage. Sautéing is one of the many skills you can learn at college for culinary arts. Eating a good helping of greens on the first is thought to bring a fruitful year.
Pork
Many cultures include pork in their meal to symbolize progress. A pig's natural instinct is to root and push forward to find food. The theory is, eating pork will cause a forward moving economy and civilization.
Grapes
Eating grapes at midnight is a Spanish tradition dating back to the early 1900s. It is customary to eat the fruit as the clock strikes twelve on New Year's Eve. Many locals attempt to keep up with the chimes and eat one grape at every stroke of the clock. This custom found its way to Portugal and Cuba where the grapes represent the months of the year. It is said that the taste of each grape reflects the nature of the month. A grape that tastes sweet predicts a happy month full of blessings.
Fish
Fish on New Year's is another timeless tradition. Many countries around the world serve fish or other seafood as the main dish of the fest. Such foods ensure a healthy life and good luck. Some cultures try to hold onto the luck by keeping fish scales in their wallets year-round.
Cakes
Every holiday meal should have a dessert, and cakes are the perfect way to end a New Year's feast. Cakes represent the cycle of the year and can actually bring some luck too. Several traditions involve hiding some sort of trinket in the cake to be found when eating. The recipient of the surprise is believed to be blessed with good luck for the next year.
Bad Luck Foods
Along with the tradition of good luck foods comes the tradition of bad luck foods. Many people believe that eating dishes containing lobster or chicken will keep them stuck in the past. Both animals move or scratch backward implying a backward mindset not focused on the future. In general, poultry is usually kept off the table to prevent any good luck from flying away.
Compliment any of these dishes with a little champagne or sparkling cider, and toast to a lucky new year. If you feel like changing your future this year, perhaps you should explore the possibilities of taking some classes at one of the California culinary schools near you.
Sources:
http://www.babble.com/best-recipes/dinner/traditional-new-years-food-party-dishes/greens/#_slide
http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/holidays/newyearsday/luckyfoods
This article is presented by California Culinary Academy in San Francisco. California Culinary Academy offers culinary arts and pâtisserie and baking training programs. To learn more about the class offerings, please visit Chefs.edu/San-Francisco for more information.
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