You’ve probably recovered, mostly, from your Christmas Feast and have consumed most of the leftovers. So, it’s time to think about what you’re going to serve for New Year’s. I’ve done a little research and prepared a ‘menu’ of Good Luck New Year’s Foods from around the world…
The whole family gets together to make New Year’s Dumplings in China…
When I started looking up New Year’s culinary specialties, I didn’t realize how important the coming of the New Year is in so many cultures, and how closely tied food is to their traditions. I’ll bet you’ll be just as surprised – and intrigued – as I was!
Greens have a special place
In Germany, the Netherlands and other Central European countries, they always make sure to have Greens of some sort on their New Year’s menu. Cabbage is the ‘Green’ of choice for many of these regions, so it’s no wonder that, in several of these ancient cultures, they serve Boiled Cabbage, Cabbage Salad or Sauerkraut at New Year’s. My dear, departed dad always said his English mother always served Cabbage at New Year’s and insisted that everyone have some. My paternal grandfather joked, “It means you’ll get rich this year! It’s the colour of money!”
Cabbage and Pork is a particular favourite, as Cabbage means good luck and the Pork adds the meaning of ‘going forward’ into the new year. Why Pork? The old tradition goes, Pigs ‘root forward’ and so represent progress. Chickens and other poultry, on the other hand, scratch backwards – seen as representing the opposite. I like to serve Polish-style Fried Cabbage and Pork Sausage, A Pork Roast with a side of Boiled Cabbage or a side of Sauerkraut with just about any savoury main.
Other Germanic specialties
According to CNN Travel, “Austria and its neighbor Germany call New Year’s Eve Sylvesterabend, or the eve of Saint Sylvester. Austrian revelers drink a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices, eat suckling pig for dinner and decorate the table with little pigs made of marzipan, called marzipanschwein (see photo, top of page). Good luck pigs, or Glücksschwein, which are made of all sorts of things, are also common gifts throughout both Austria and Germany.” Good Luck Pigs, eh?
Pickled Herring
Call them Roll Mops, or whatever they may be to you, Scandanavian partiers always have rolled up Pickled Herring at Midnight on New Year’s Eve, often on a buffet with other pickled or smoked Fish, Patés and Meatballs. The Herring may be Pickled with Salt and Onions, with Cream Sauce or, in rare instances, Mustard Sauce.
The Chinese MUST have Dumplings
One hard and fast rule in Chinese and other Asian households is the necessity of having a big spread of Dumplings at New Year’s. You must chow down with gusto on Dim Sum at the start of the new year to ensure prosperity and happiness throughout the next 12 months. Chinese Dumplings – like Central European traditions – always feature Pork and Greens in their stuffings. The whole family traditionally gets together to make the simple Dumpling Wrapper Dough, prepare the stuffings and fold up[ the finished morsels of good fortune.
Long Noodles, long life
In Japan, families are certain to have at least one meal of Soba Noodles at New Year’s. And it will be traditional Buckwheat Soba Noodles; Toshikoshi Soba, eaten at midnight on New Year’s Eve. The long Noodles are said to represent longevity and prosperity.
Hoppin’ John
This Southern U.S. tradition combines Pork strips, Black-eyed Peas and Collard Greens served over Rice. The Beans are said to represent coins, and the Greens, of course, represent money. But the folks down south go the rest of the world one better; they serve their New Year’s Hoppin’ John with a side of Corn Bread – the colour of Gold!
Tamales
In Mexico, New Year’s isn’t New Year’s without a big steaming pot of Tamales. As most of us already know, Tamales are Corn Husk-wrapped bundles of Rice and Pulled Meat which are steamed for, hours to cook up tender and develop their own unique flavour. As in other cultures, the Meat of choice is Pork, which is associated with ‘plenty’. If you really want to stretch the parallels with other cultures, the Wrappers – Corn Husks or Banana Leaves – might be considered greens!
King Cake
This pastry comes in several different forms, but the idea behind it is the same for all. Whether you’re celebrating in Greece, France, Bulgaria or even Mexico, the King Cake is traditionally consumed at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Some cooks place a coin inside. The diner who gets it is ensured good luck for the next 12 months.
Wherever and however you celebrate, have a great New Year’s Eve and make sure to eat traditional foods that ensure long life, prosperity and happiness.
~ Maggie J.