New Year's Eve: Good Luck Food Traditions Around the World

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Pork & Sauerkraut - Germany

While lobsters and chickens move backward, pigs leap forward and are thus seen as a symbol of progress. With its high fat content, pork can also signify wealth and prosperity, which makes it a popular New Year's dish in many countries, especially Germany. There, it's served with sauerkraut, which is believed to encourage wealth and blessings. And just before eating, it's tradition for everyone to wish one another goodness and money equivalent to the number of cabbage shreds in the sauerkraut preparation.

Anyone who's not a huge fan of pork, however, can indulge in Marzipanschweine, aka Marzipan-Pigs, which are small pig-shaped chocolates equipped with similar lucky benefits.