Eating specific foods on New Year’s Eve is a tradition in many cultures, symbolizing good luck, prosperity, health, and happiness for the coming year. Here are some popular good-luck foods you can pick up at Costco to bring good vibes into 2025!
As you stroll the warehouse aisles, think about adding some of these lucky foods to your cart.
1. Grapes (Spain and Latin America)
- Why: Eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each stroke of the clock, is believed to bring luck for the 12 months of the year. The tradition began in Spain in the 1800s and was popularized a hundred years later when the Alicante region had a bumper crop of grapes.
- How: Eat each grape as the clock strikes, focusing on positivity and wishes for the year ahead. If you have a small group, skewering the grapes makes it easier to manage.
2. Greens (United States and Europe)
- Why: Leafy greens like kale, collards, and spinach resemble money and are thought to symbolize wealth and prosperity.
- How: Add a simple salad kit to your holiday meal. These bagged greens contain everything needed (vegetables, toppings, dressing) to create an easy side believed to bring prosperity into the New Year.
3. Pork (Global)
- Why: Pigs symbolize progress and prosperity because they look for food forward, unlike other animals that scratch backward.
- How: Enjoy roast pork, pork sausages, or even ham. Many in the Midwest serve pork with sauerkraut on New Year’s Day. We liked the Wild Brine brand in the warehouse.
4. Noodles (Asia)
- Why: Long noodles symbolize a long life but must not be cut or broken while cooking or eating.
- How: Try the Rice Ramen Noodles from Costco. These noodles contain only brown rice and millet flour, are easy to prepare, and provide a whole-grain version of ramen noodles. We like them with Bachan’s Japanese BBQ Sauce drizzled on top.
5. Fish (Worldwide)
- Why: Fish represent abundance, fertility, and forward movement. Many cultures also believe eating fish scales (like coins) symbolizes wealth.
- How: Serve whole fish (branzino) for a more traditional take, or try the popular frozen Kirkland Signature Frozen Salmon filets.
6. Pomegranates (Mediterranean and Middle Eastern)
- Why: The seeds represent prosperity and fertility, and the fruit symbolizes life and renewal.
- How: Enjoy fresh pomegranate seeds as a snack or sprinkle them over a salad. We love them in Greek Yogurt for a healthy dessert or added to a salad.
7. Lentils (Italy and Brazil)
- Why: Their coin-like shape symbolizes wealth and abundance.
- How: Try Tasty Bites Madras Lentils in the warehouse. Costco sells pouches of soft lentils and red kidney beans slow-cooked in a tomato sauce with various spices. They cook in a minute in the microwave and are delicious on their own as a hearty soup or over rice.
8. Round Foods (Global)
- Why: Circles symbolize the year coming full circle, completion, and eternity.
- How: Indulge in round fruits (like oranges) or baked goods such as donuts and cakes. It’s never hard to find a great cake at Costco, although if you need a recommendation, we are partial to their exceptionally priced pumpkin pies.
9. Cornbread (Southern U.S.)
- Why: Its golden color represents gold and financial prosperity.
- How: Pair it with greens and black-eyed peas for a lucky New Year’s meal. We’ve tried many cornbread recipes and keep coming back to the Krusteaz mix. It’s the perfect amount of sweet and crumbly and couldn’t be easier to prepare.
Integrating these foods into your New Year’s Eve menu can add meaning and a touch of festive fun as you welcome the new year!
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