Black-Eyed Peas
There are a variety of myths as to where the tradition of eating black-eyed peas comes from, but whichever you believe in, they all say the beans will bring good luck in the form of money in the New Year. As the saying goes, if you "eat poor on New Year's, you'll eat fat the rest of the year".
Pork
Eating pork on the New Year is supposed to inspire progress throughout the year to come, both because of pig's girthy size and the fact that they root forward.
Buttered Bread
January 1 is known to some as 'Day of Buttered Bread' in Ireland to the variety of traditions involving bread on New Years.
Greens
It's traditional to eat hearty greens like cabbage or kale to bring prosperity in the New Year.
Cornbread
Sweet or savory cornbread is said to bring prosperity in the New Year
Noodles
Super-long noodles are thought to bring long life in the New Year, especially if you can make them without breaking them in half.
Pomegranate Seeds
Pomegranate seeds have always been affiliated with fertility and life. In Greece, the whole fruit is thrown across the floor releasing a sea of seeds that symbolize abundance in the New Year.
Champagne
Popping Champagne to usher in the New Year is a tradition dating back to the 1800s. It was a drink associated with wealth and nobility, so drinking it at midnight is a way to welcome prosperity into your own life for the upcoming year.