Lucky Foods Around the Globe, Noodles in Japan, Guess What in China?

Traditions can vary across the globe, and so do the foods considered lucky in many cultures. From symbolizing wealth to longevity, here are some lucky foods from around the globe that can bring you luck in the New Year.

Noodles

In Japan and some other Asian countries, people eat soba noodles on New Year's Day and eat them loudly to symbolize longevity. The noodles are called toshi-koshi soba, meaning "farewell to the old year, welcome to the new year," and if the noodles don't break when you eat them, you'll be lucky in the new year.

Cooked leafy greens

Across the globe, people in many parts of the world consider cooked leafy greens to be a sign of good luck, as they look like money and therefore symbolize financial wealth. In Germany, cabbage is the lucky vegetable, while in Denmark, stewed kale sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon is the lucky vegetable. For South Americans, it's kale that brings luck.

Fish

Chinese people eat fish steamed whole because it symbolizes a good year. In Poland and Scandinavian countries, people choose to pickle herring because its silvery scales look like money. Italians dry pickled cod, while Germans eat carp. They also keep a few fish scales in their wallets to signify prosperity.

Grapes

In Spain, Portugal and many Latin American countries, revelers eat grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Day, eating 12 grapes for each stroke of the bell. According to an old tradition, a grape represents a month, and whether or not that month is lucky depends on the sweetness and acidity of the grapes. For example, if the fourth grape is sour, then April might be a bit of a bumpy month. The goal is to swallow and finish each grape before the last bell strikes midnight.