Multiply Luck in 2016 by Eating Lucky Foods on New Year's Eve - Slideshow

New Year Lucky Foods

The end of another year and the beginning of another one! Fresh hopes, fresh struggles, new found happiness and plenty of special moments await. Though New Year's Eve is a time for revelation, cheer and plenty of merrymaking, it is also a bit daunting to think of what lies ahead.

In anticipation of all the good things that will come your way in 2016, here we have a collection of lucky foods to eat on New Year's Eve to cement your chances of good fortune. We know you are already fortunate, since you are reading this!

Long Noodles

A popular dish in China and Japan, the longevity noodles are a must on New Year's Eve and birthdays. The long noodles signify good health and long life. These noodles are not cut but cooked in their entirety, signifying a healthy lifespan.

These long noodles are normally stir-fried and are great New Year's Eve food ideas.

Grapes

This tradition began in Spain but soon spread to Portugal, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico and Peru. According to the Spaniard 12 grapes should be eaten at 12 midnight, signifying the 12 months of the year. The taste of the grapes are an indication of how the month would turn out to be, so if the 5th grape is exceptionally sweet, expect a wonderful time in May!

Lentils

In Italy, it is believed that eating lentils after midnight will reign in prosperity as cooked lentils look like coins. Black eyes peas are also eaten for the same reason but they are also a symbol of humility.

In America, black eyes peas are part of a dish called 'Hoppin' John'. This dish consists of rice, bell peppers (green, red and yellow), onions, meat, spices, celery and black eyes peas, of course. Young children are encouraged to hop around the table before the family sits down for dinner, as a sign of prosperity.

Round or Ring Shaped Cakes

The round or the ring shape of the cakes signify the circle of life and eating these cakes are believed to make the entire lifespan happy and prosperous. This tradition is followed across the globe with many people cutting delicious cakes at midnight. Variations of this tradition include adding a gold coin in the cakes, whoever gets the coin will be additionally lucky the whole year.

Pork

The tradition of eating pork on New Year's Eve is extremely popular in Germany. This tradition stems from the Middle Ages when families that owned a lot of pigs were prosperous and never went hungry. Moreover, pigs were rooted to the ground and moved forward, signifying progress.

Apart from actually eating pork, pig shaped Marzipan or chocolate treats are also distributed during the New Year season.

Pomegranate

Pomegranates are wonder foods that are cherished in Turkey during New Year's Eve celebrations. The fruit in its entirety is sought after while its different aspects denote varied facets of fortune

Its red color signifies a healthy heart and long life

The juicy and abundant seeds signify prosperity

Their health benefits are a sign of good health.

Whole Fish

Eating whole fish had been a tradition from the Middle Ages when Churches restricted the consumption of red meat during religious festivals. The fish is cooked with its head and tail intact, implying prosperity from head to toe. The most commonly eaten fish is cod.

Some of the other fish and their significance are

Carp - Its carp for Germans and they place a fresh fish scale in their wallet to draw in prosperity.

Herring Roe - The Japanese believe eating Herring Roe improves fertility

Shrimp - Long life

Sardines - Fertility.

Greens

Cooked greens are eaten in plenty as they resemble folded currency notes. The more greens that are eaten the most prosperous the person will be in the coming year!

Some of the commonly eaten greens are Kale, cabbage and collards. This tradition that is popular in America South and Europe are a great way to welcome the New Year, after all eating greens are healthy, letting you take it easy at the gym the next morning. A good, prosperous, healthy as well as a happy way to start the New Year.

Honey Oranges

Honey oranges are cherished on New Year's Eve as they are a sign of good fortune. These sweet oranges are said to signify the pleasant days ahead with their succulent fruit implying prosperity and growth.

Sauerkraut

Sauerkraut - chopped pickled cabbage for good luck believe Germans. This is a long standing tradition where everyone at the table wishes each other that their prosperity and wealth would multiply in proportion to the number of shreds of sauerkraut in the pot.

What Not To Eat

When there are traditions for foods that bring in luck, well there are traditions for food which should be avoided. Here is a list of some of them and why you need to stay away from them on New Year's Eve

Lobsters - They signify setbacks as they swim backwards

Winged fowl - Good fortune will fly away

Chicken - They signify reminiscing in the past as they tend to scratch backwards

Lucky Or Not, Leave Some Behind

People in Germany believe that a little food should remain on your plate after your meal, this will ensure that you have plenty to eat the whole year. While people in the Philippines believe that cooked food should be available at midnight to ensure that food is always at hand.

Finally, eat sensibly and healthy which will keep you feeling good throughout the year. Happy New Year!