As the year draws to a close, many of us get excited about fresh starts and new possibilities. Around the globe, different cultures celebrate the New Year with unique traditions, and food often plays a central role. But did you know that some foods are believed to bring bad luck if eaten around the New Year? It might sound a bit quirky, but for many, these culinary superstitions are taken quite seriously.
Let's look at some foods that are considered unlucky for the New Year's celebration. Remember, these are just fun traditions—enjoy your meal regardless!
Related: The Top 10 Good Luck Foods for the New Year!
Birds that scratch the ground, such as chickens and turkeys, are often seen as unlucky because of the implication that they’re digging into the past. Superstitious eaters also worry that consuming winged animals might cause their good fortune to "fly away."
To keep your luck grounded and moving forward, pork is a popular alternative as pigs root forward when foraging. For those avoiding meat altogether, plant-based alternatives are an excellent way to honor the superstition while keeping your New Year’s menu inclusive.
For those who love baking, there's usually nothing more satisfying than the aroma of freshly baked bread. But on New Year's, a particular type of bread might raise some eyebrows among the superstitious. Bread with large air pockets inside, often called "hollow bread," carries a rather grim association.
Some believe these empty spaces resemble coffins, thus symbolizing death in the coming year. It's a rather unsettling thought, especially during a time of celebration and hope. Since it's pretty much impossible to predict the internal structure of your loaf before slicing it, some people who adhere to these beliefs might suggest playing it safe and simply forgoing the bread course altogether until January 2nd has passed.
Noodles, particularly long, unbroken strands, are generally welcomed at a Chinese New Year celebration. They are seen as a powerful symbol of longevity and a long, healthy life. The emphasis is really on the length of the noodle. Therefore, a bowl filled with noodles that have been broken into shorter pieces is thought to carry the opposite meaning, potentially suggesting a shortened life. It's a superstition that highlights the importance of visual representation in food during this significant holiday.
While intentionally breaking noodles might be frowned upon in some circles, it's interesting to note that not all cultures share this particular belief. In Japan, for example, broken soba noodles eaten on New Year's Eve are actually considered lucky, as they are thought to help you symbolically "break off" from the troubles and negativity of the past year.
Related: Around the World in 10 Unique New Year's Eve Traditions
While finishing your meal is polite in many cultures, superstitions around New Year’s suggest leaving a small amount of food on your plate can bring prosperity. The idea is that a bit of leftover food symbolizes abundance and ensures you won’t go hungry in the year ahead. This practice takes on even greater significance if your plate happens to be filled with foods traditionally associated with good luck, such as grapes, pork, or beans, while carefully avoiding those considered unlucky..
Of course, this tradition should be balanced with avoiding waste—so it might be best to serve yourself a slightly smaller portion to leave just the right amount behind.
