Good Luck Foods for New Year's Day

Noodles - In many Asian countries, long noodles are eaten on New Year's Day in order to bring a long life. One catch: You can't break the noodle before it is all in your mouth.

Black-Eyed Peas - A common good luck food in the southern United States, black-eyed peas are thought to bring prosperity, especially when served with collard greens.

Cabbage - In Germany, Ireland, and parts of the United States, cabbage is associated with luck and fortune since it is green and resembles money.

Lentils - Thought to resemble coins, lentils are eaten throughout Italy for good fortune in the New Year.

Pomegranate - Long associated with abundance and fertility, pomegranates are eaten in Turkey and other Mediterranean countries for luck in the New Year.

Fish - In North America, Asia, and Europe, people eat fish to celebrate the new year. In some countries, people associate fish with moving forward into the new year since fish swim forward. Other people think fish symbolize abundance since they swim in schools.