Happy New Year 2021

Good Luck Foods for the New Year

ASIA – braised pork

Happy New Year 2021 from all of us here at Watson Lake Inn. There are many foods eaten for good luck in many parts of the world. Those have important symbolic meanings. They seem to fall into several major categories.

The first class symbolizes financial prosperity. This type of food is round like coins. The second type of New Year’s food symbol represents the hope of having food on the table throughout the year. And a third symbol involves eating sweet food in order to have a sweet year. In some countries people bake a coin in a sweet cake and the person who gets the coin will have good luck throughout the year. In Spain, Portugal, and parts of South and Central America, 12 sweet grapes, one for each month of the year, are eaten at midnight. The hope is to eat 12 sweet grapes to have 12 sweet months! Another symbol for good luck involves eating food in a ring shape – like doughnuts or ring shaped cakes. This represents coming full circle to successfully complete the year – that’s good luck.

Symbolic Good Luck Foods

Pork

Pork for progress! Pigs root around with their snouts moving in a forward motion, which is why many cultures around the world eat pork on New Year’s Day to symbolize progress for the coming year.

Black-Eyed Peas, Greens, and Cornbread

Even folks who aren’t from the Southern United States go all in on eating black-eyed peas and leafy greens for good luck on New Year’s Day. Add a slice of cornbread, and you’ve got “peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.”

Grapes

In Spain and Mexico, eating 12 grapes at midnight as the clock strikes once for each hour will bring you luck for the 12 months ahead.

Pomegranates

Seeds have always been associated with fertility. In Greece, they hurl whole pomegranates to the floor to release a flood of seeds that symbolize life and abundance.

Fish

So many fish in the sea. Maybe that’s why they symbolized abundance in the new year around the world: Asian cultures feast on whole fish to celebrate Lunar New year, while on the other side of the globe, Europeans eat cod, herring, and carp. And while you don’t eat the silvery scales, they do stand for coinage and plenty of it.

Noodles and Rice

Noodles, especially extra-long noodles, are thought to bring long life if you eat them without breaking them in the middle. Rice is all about fertility and wealth.

Cakes

Ring-shaped cakes and other rounded sweet treats like the Scandinavian kransekaker – which represent not only carby deliciousness, but also the year coming full circle. In some traditions, a coin is baked inside to bring an extra serving of luck to the one who finds it.

Staying at Watson Lake Inn

We know you’ve got many options for lodging; but staying with us at Watson Lake Inn, you will indulge in a memorable experience and culinary discovery. Complemented with an indoor environment in harmony with nature through Memon the unique technology that works in many ways. – Holistic comfort that our guests can feel! Choose from one of our three suites for your stay with us in the Granite Dells.

While our lodging is closed in January – we do have dates available for private cooking classes.

To learn more about us sign up for our newsletter and stay tuned of “what’s cooking” at our Inn.