Most of us would appreciate a lot of good luck any time of the year. Some cultures believe that certain foods start the year off in the right direction. Beans, round foods and noodles seem to be high on the list, as well as lucky desserts! Now who wouldn’t feel lucky to enjoy the best of desserts?
Other times, what you wear is indicative of what will come your way. Or where you are on New Year’s Eve might bring luck to you. Perhaps this is superstition or wishful thinking. If it makes us feel great do it!
While the very word “new” brings about thoughts of hope, and an opportunity to focus on a list of fresh goals, challenges. A fresh start.
Many cultures believe eating round foods (mentioned above) on New Year’s Eve will lead to prosperity. In Italy, lentils in a New Year’s dish serve the same function as the black-eyed peas with their round shape representing coins. In the Philippines, it’s customary to eat 12 round fruits, one for every month, to ensure a year of abundance. The fruits usually take center stage at the table or the midnight meal.
Grapes
Certain traditions believe that eating twelve grapes, one for each chime of the clock, right after midnight will bring luck in the New Year. This tradition is said to have started in 1909 by grape growers who wanted to cut down on a surplus of grapes. The grape ritual is said to guarantee sweetness and fortune in the year ahead. Each grape follows the month – so your first grape represents January 2nd, February, etc. If you happen to get a sour grape along the way, it is said to predict that month will be a challenging one in whatever year you might land on one sour grape. Let’s hope it is only one sour grape!
in Portugal and Cuba, celebrants make a special wish for each grape. In Spain, the grape ritual is often followed by parties that last into the next morning and end with breakfast. In fact, several variations of the grape tradition are found in many other Spanish speaking countries around the world.
Round Fruits
Round fruits such as oranges and apples, are considered New Year’s Luck foods in many countries because they are believed to symbolize coins and bring a prosperous New Year.
In Vietnam, red is a lucky color, so watermelon is served.
In Greece, they smash a pomegranate at the entrance of the house right after midnight. the further the seeds spread, the better the luck for the family in the new year.
If you want to create a “lucky” centerpiece for your New Year’s party, put a bowl of pomegranate and citrus fruits on your dining room table.
Avocado (yes it is a fruit). The green and purple varieties are said to represent prosperity.
Root Vegetables
Through yoga and holistic healing, many of us are familiar with the various chakra points in the body. The root chakra is said to be the energy center which keeps us calm, grounded, and roots use to our core values and beliefs. To find balance in all aspects of your life and be open to lucky and good energy in the New year, begin with the chakra. If the root chakra is unbalanced, you may find yourself giving into old habits, patterns, and mindsets that hold you back. People that are grounded tend to be more open, realistic, organized and practical. According to Ayurvedic Medicine, the roots of a plant are its anchor and the foundations of life, so the theory is that, when you eat these vegetables, you take in that deeply rooted and grounded energy. Incorporate root vegetables as New Year’s lucky foods and begin the year with a calming and grounding effect on the mind and body. Root chakra foods are potatoes, carrots, radishes, onions, turnips, squash, parsnip, sweet potato, beets, garlic, ginger and so on.
You can also incorporate spices that have a warming effects on the body such as cumin, cinnamon, cardamom, mustard seed, turmeric, cloves, and black pepper. Of course, these foods are great for us all year through.
Beans
Why eat black-eyed peas or other beans on New Year’s? Eating beans on New Year’s is considered good luck. The theory is because they “swell” as you cook them. Because they swell beans symbolize prosperity and growth. In the South, eating beans shows a sign of humility and therefore, invite good fortune. Black-eyed peas are the most popular beans eaten or New Year’s followed by green lentils. Green represents the color of money as you know.
Cornbread
Said to symbolize gold, cornbread is a popular New Year’s southern tradition. To ensure extra luck, some people add extra corn kernels, emblematic of golden nuggets. Some like to use a drizzle of honey or honey butter as a topping on their cornbread, due to its golden color, to add even more luck. Try these cornbread pancakes for breakfast.
CORNBREAD PANCAKES
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup cornmeal
2 tablespoons white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1-1/4 cups buttermilk (substitute if you can’t digest buttermilk)
2 large eggs
3 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
DIRECTIONS
Step 1
Whisk flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Whisk buttermilk (or alternative), eggs and butter in a separate large bowl. Stir the liquid mixture into the dry mixture until blended and smooth.
Step 2
Heat a lightly oiled griddle or skillet over medium-high heat. For each pancake, pour 1/4 cup batter on a griddle and cook until browned, about 1-1/2 minutes. flip and cook until browned on the other side, about 1 minute. Continue with remaining batter.
Nutrition Facts
Per Serving: 278 calories; protein 8.1 grams, carbohydrates 38.9 grams; fat 10 grams; cholesterol 95.2 milligrams; sodium 550.4 mg.
I wish you all the very best in the New Year. Thank you for staying with me as I continue to write this newsletter.
