New Year's Day Meal

[gottalovethem]

Hi. I need some good luck in the new year, share your best New Year's Day good luck recipes -- and if you happen to know why they are for "good luck" that would be interesting to know!

Thank you.

 

[clori]

my husband's family is from Hungary and their section was once part of Ukraine. I think this is either a Hungarian or Ukrainian tradition but it might just be made up. Every morning on New Year's Day everyone had to have at least a bite of chocolate from a chocolate horseshoe for good luck in the upcoming year. We can't find chocolate horseshoes where we live so have decided that it works with any chocolate.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I like the chocolate bit!!

My husband’s family usually has pork and applesauce, but I never knew why. The OP's question prompted me to look it up, and I found these –

From a question asked on an Ohio State University nutrition site –
“We always have pork and sauerkraut for dinner on New Year's Day. Can you tell me anything about that tradition?
Everyone I know says it's for "good luck," but no one can tell me with certainty where this custom started. It appears to be a German or a Pennsylvania Dutch (really, it's Pennsylvania Deutsch) tradition that has migrated to other portions of American culture, but down South other practices prevail: there, New Year's Day calls for black-eyed peas -- particularly a dish called Hoppin' John, with seasonings and rice -- and collard greens. “

From a website called 123newyear.com -
“Lucky New Year Food in America
There is a Southern saying that dictates eating habits in the Southern United States' New Year's: "Eat poor on New Year's, eat fat the rest of the year." A traditional Southern New Year's meal includes ham, corn bread, black-eyed peas and collard greens. Both black-eyed peas and collard greens are considered especially lucky additions to the dinner table. Black-eyed peas are thought to bring wealth because they look like little coins, in addition to the fact that they swell when cooked -- a sure sign of prosperity. Collard greens are considered lucky because they are green, like greenbacks -- money!”


I didn’t notice any mention of the applesauce – I think it’s just because none of the kids liked sauerkraut! There were more traditions from other countries on the 123 site that were pretty interesting as well.

Sending special New Year's pixie dust...

 

[MiniGirl]

my husband's family is from Hungary and their section was once part of Ukraine. I think this is either a Hungarian or Ukrainian tradition but it might just be made up. Every morning on New Year's Day everyone had to have at least a bite of chocolate from a chocolate horseshoe for good luck in the upcoming year. We can't find chocolate horseshoes where we live so have decided that it works with any chocolate.

Try this site.... http://choconet1.stores.yahoo.net/cuchsh.html. I think they are a little on the pricey side though.

Must say... I love the chocolate idea though. The traditional New Years Meal of black-eyed peas and greens is my least favorite -- although St. Patrick's Day is a close second.

I don't know where the whole thing started, but my mom always said we'd eat like a pauper on New Year's, so we could eat like a king the rest of the year, and that these foods represented prosperity.

 

[barbmouse]

Always black-eyed peas for us!!

 

[pennypooh]

cooked cabbage--we saute it chopped in butter with a little season salt--I think it's supposed to bring you money in the new year--you, know--green and "leafy"

black eyed peas bring good luck--garlic salt, black pepper, chunk of ham, and Rotel seasoning to your taste (careful it can get a little hot) but it's the only way I've ever liked it

ham with pineapple and cherries in the crockpot --I think that's a prosperity thing too.

 

[LaraK]

I'm in Central PA visiting my in-laws...heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country...we'll be eating pork and 'Kraut tomorrow.

 

[becca011906]

My MIL always makes a cabage veggy soup, and makes all of use take a bit of the raw cabage too, it's really good soup too. i'm looking forward to it tomorrow afternoon.

 

[crazelion]

Black -eye peas and collard greens down south

 

[bkaz]

We're in Missouri but my grandma grew up in Georgia...so another vote for black-eyed peas and cornbread with ham! Found a recipe a few years ago with jalapeno peppers in the peas/beans, which perked things up a bit!