It’s said that if you eat these dishes on New Year’s Day good luck will be headed your way. The good fortune you could receive varies from culture to culture, so here are some options to put on your plate this New Year’s Day.

For us Southerners black-eyed peas are to be eaten first in order to receive luck and prosperity throughout the New Year. When served with greens, black-eyed peas are said to represent coins and the greens symbolize paper money.

Cornbread, another southern tradition, when served with black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day stands for gold.

According to folklore when black-eyed peas are cooked with stewed tomatoes you will receive wealth and good health.

Other cultures interpret New Year’s Day dishes differently. For instance, in Spain people eat 12 grapes at midnight. Each grape signifies every month of the year. Some tradition believers think if the third grape is sour March may be a bit bumpy for that person.

As for New Year’s Day main dishes, the custom of eating pork is based on the theory that pigs mean progress.

When considering which desserts to consume, take these choices into consideration. Cakes and other baked goods are common treats for New Year’s Day. In Italy it’s customary to eat chiacchiere, which are  honey-drenched clusters of fried dough. In Holland ollie bollen, which is doughnut like and filled with currants, raisins and apples is popular.

Superstition also focuses on what not to eat. Dishes to avoid are lobster because they move backward which may predict setbacks for the upcoming year.

Stay away from chicken as well because birds scratch backwards which is said to make a person dwell on the past or stir up matters that will bring about regret.

If all else fails remember this quote from It’s A Wonderful Life, “Bread that this house may never know hunger. Salt that life may always have flavor and wine that joy and prosperity may reign forever.”

Enjoy your New Year’s Day eats. Happy New Year!