Lucky Food for the New Year

Searching for Lucky Food for the New Year? Food plays an important role in celebrations all around the world.  New Year food traditions are often believed to bring luck, happiness, and prosperity. From Traditional New Year food passed down through generations to more affordable and easy New Year’s Eve food, these dishes are chosen for their symbolic meanings and shared joy. Explore this list of lucky foods honoring culture, welcoming good fortune, and start the year with warmth, abundance, and togetherness.

What is considered lucky food for the New Year 2026 ?

Lucky foods for the New Year are traditionally chosen for what they symbolize—longevity, prosperity, happiness, and good health. For this upcoming Lunar New Year 2026, the Year of the Horse, the foods often linked to strength, abundance, and forward movement are especially meaningful. Some examples you’ll commonly see on the dining table are:

• Long Noodles – symbolizing a long and healthy life.
• Whole Fish – symbolizing prosperity.
• Shrimps or Prawns – representing wath and happiness.
• Pork dishes – which are associated with abundance and richness.
• Dumplings which look like ancient colden ingots, Sticky Rice Cakes or those similar in texture signifies progress and growth, and Round-shaped Fruits symbolize money and completeness are considered Good fortune for wealth.
• Other Lucky Food for the New Year ingredients eaten or placed on the table are Rice, Beans and Legumes, or Leafy Greens, all which are believed to help with stability, productivity, prosperity, and nourishment.
• Lucky food for new year Philippines? In the Philippines you’ll often see many Filipinos buying 12 round fruits for the New Year. These may be in different shapes or different kinds of fruits ( just make sure these are 12 pieces ) to decorate the house or to eat for the New Year, pancit served at breakfast, lunch, and or dinner, and sweet dishes to ‘attract’ sweeter days ahead.

Here are a some dishes eaten around the world for New Year’s 

1. Japan – Mochi

Mochi is a key traditional Japanese New Year food that symbolizes strength, unity, and good fortune. Made of glutinous rice, it has a number of varieties, flavors, and colors. This snack is shared among family and offered at shrines to honor ancestors and deities. Eating mochi during the New Year reflects wishes for health, happiness, and prosperity in the year ahead.

2. Korean – Tteokguk (떡국) – Rice Cake Soup

Tteokguk (떡국) is a traditional Korean New Year dish made of sliced rice cakes simmered in a clear broth, garnished with eggs, chillies, and more. Symbolizing renewal, purity, and good fortune. Eating this dish during Seollal is believed to mark the act of becoming one year older, representing a fresh start for the year ahead.

3. China – Dumplings

Dumplings are a traditional Chinese New Year food. Symbolizing wealth and prosperity as these delicious nuggets resemble ancient gold ingots. Most Families gather to make dumplings from scratch, turning the preparation into a meaningful bonding activity. Eating dumplings during the New Year represents hopes for financial success, fortune, and a prosperous year ahead.

4. Russia – Herring Under a Fur Coat ( Shuba Salad )

Herring Under a Fur Coat (Shuba Salad) is a classic colorful Russian New Year dish made of layered herring, potatoes, carrots, beets, and mayonnaise. Served during the New Year as it’s said to symbolize abundance, warmth, and tradition. 

5. Brazil – Pomegranate seeds 

Pomegranate seeds are traditionally eaten in Brazil during the New Year as a symbol of prosperity, abundance, and good luck. Some people even eat or keep a specific number of seeds—commonly seven—while making a wish for the year ahead. 

6. Spain – Eating 12 grapes at midnight

In Spain, they eat 12 grapes at midnight. A well-known New Year tradition symbolizing good luck for each month of the coming year. How this goes is that when the clock strikes twelve, people eat one grape with each chime, hoping to attract prosperity, happiness, and success. 

7. Singapore – Yusheng (Lo Hei) 

Yusheng (Lo Hei) is a popular Singaporean New Year dish made of sliced raw fish, colorful fresh sliced vegetables, and sweet-savory sauces. Enjoyed together during Lunar New Year with friends and families tossing the ingredients together while saying auspicious wishes. A dish as a symbol of prosperity and good fortune. 

8.  Indonesia – Tumpeng

Tumpeng is a traditional Indonesian dish  of cone-shaped yellow rice which represents a sacred mountain, expressing respect to God and hopes for prosperity and protection. This cone is surrounded by various side dishes commonly prepared for New Year, or sometimes in other special celebrations. A dish that symbolizes gratitude, harmony, and blessings.

9. Italy – Cotechino

In Italy, Cotechino or Pork sausage is eaten on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day as a symbol of abundance and prosperity. Commonly served with lentils, these sausages-when sliced resemble coins and represent wealth for the year ahead. Enjoying this dish at the start of the year reflects Italian beliefs in good fortune, and a prosperous new beginning.

10. Vietnam – Gà Luộc

 Gà Luộc or ‘boiled chicken’ is served during Vietnamese Tết ( or Lunar New Year ). An important dish that symbolizes respect, purity, and good fortune. Often prepared whole and or offered to the ancestral altar, for gratitude to ancestors and hopes for protection and prosperity in the coming year. 

11. Thailand – Khanom chan

In Thailand, Khanom Chan or this vibrant and fun layered dessert is  enjoyed during the New Year as a symbol of progress, success, and good fortune. Made of rice flour and coconut milk, sometimes with pandan flavoring, or with different food colorings. Its multiple colorful layers represent moving upward in life.

12. Laos – Sticky rice (Khao niao)

Khao niao or “Sticky Rice” is a staple food in Laos, holding a special meaning. Eating this during the New Year symbolizes abundance, unity,prosperity, as well as this represents togetherness and gratitude for the harvest. 

13.  Myanmar – Mont Lone Yay Baw

Mont Lone Yay Baw is a traditional snack made of glutinous rice balls filled with palm sugar ( or a surprise chili ), boiled until soft and chewy. It’s seen as a symbol of luck, joy, and togetherness. This dish is often prepared with family and even neighbors.

14. Cambodia – Nom Ansom Chek

Nom Ansom Chek or “Rolled Banana Rice Cake” is a traditional Cambodian dessert filled with bananas, wrapped in banana leaves, and often enjoyed during the New Year’s. Eaten as it symbolizes  gratitude, family unity, and continuity.

15. Philippines – Pancit 

In the Philippines, Pancit or most noodle dishes symbolizes long life, good health, and good fortune. This flavorful noodle recipe is often mixed with colorful vegetables, and meats like pork, seafood, fish, or chicken, sometimes even a mix of some of  them. A versatile and budget friendly dish that is crowd-pleasing, easy to share, and perfect for welcoming the incoming New Year.

Here are other options : 

Swerteng Handa sa Lucky Food for New Year Philippines

New year Handaan Ideas

16. Lechon or Lechon Kawali

Lechon Kawali is a popular dish not only for the Christmas season but it’s also a fan favorite during New Year’s. Delivering an irresistible crunch and rich flavor in every bite. It’s crips, golden skin with juicy tender meat makes it s a standout dish, perfect for welcoming a prosperous and joyful year ahead.

17. Pork Hamonado

Pork Hamonado is a mix of sweet and savory flavors. There’s nothing like tender pork, cooked in a rich savory and slightly tangy pineapple-based sauce to enjoy this festive time. This comforting dish is perfect for sharing with family.

18. Chicken Pochero

For those looking for a comforting, hearty dish, this Chicken Pochero recipe is an absolute must try. Tender cooked chicken mixed with colorful vegetables, and subtly sweet saba bananas, simmered in a tomato-based broth. Perfectly bringing warmth and balance. Plus it also tastes even better the next day.

19. Beef Mechado

Beef Mechado is another crowd favorite. Beef simmered until tender, then simmered once more in a rich tomato-based sauce packed with flavorful vegetables and simple aromatics to make this hearty, comforting, festive dish that brings warmth and togetherness to a handaan.

20. Sweet and Sour Tilapia

Looking for something colorfully crispy yet sweet and tangy to add to the table? This Sweet and Sour Fish recipe is perfect for those wanting to cook fish ( which represents harmony and good fortune), but would prefer a smaller already chopped size instead of cooking the whole fish. 

Here are other options : 

21. Butter Garlic Shrimp

Shrimps are said to symbolize happiness and good fortune. What better way to enjoy the New Year with a delicious Butter Garlic Shrimp recipe. Rich buttery, garlicky, delicate shrimps doused in a flavorful sauce. It’s the perfect quick and easy foolproof dish to bring at a party.

Here are other options : 

22. Bibingka

Bibingka is not only a snack eaten during the Christmas season. It’s a snack that symbolizes warmth, togetherness, and a “sweet” year ahead for many people. Soft, fluffy, with just the right amount of sweetness. This beloved Filipino rice cake adds a nostalgic, festive touch to any handaan.

Here are other options :

23. Kustinsta

Kustinta is well known for their soft, chewy texture and subtle sweetness. Some eat these because of the beloved that these symbolizes harmony and a smooth year ahead. This classic Filipino rice cake is budget friendly, easy to prepare and is perfect for sharing.

24. Fruit Salad

Fruit salad is a wonderfully delicious way to start the new year. A mix of colorful fruits, some sweetened traditional Filipino jellies, and sweet cream making this taste light, sweet, and refreshing. An easy to do crowd-pleasing dessert that balances the richer savory dishes on the party table.

Here are other options : 

25. Buko Pandan

Ending this Lucky Food for the New Year is Buko Pandan. A creamy, sweet, and aromatic dessert that’s made with the combination of shredded young coconut, pandan flavoring / essence, chewy nata de coco, pandan jellies, and rich cream makes it a festive, fan favorite dessert.

Check out our other Top Food Lists : 

If you’re looking for New Year’s Eve menu ideas from fine dining to simple New Year food ideas you can easily prepare at home. This list explores meaningful Filipino New Year traditions with stories and symbols behind the dishes. These also has a good amount of more budget friendly but still absolutely Yummy recipes. Whether you want something elegant or practical, this list offers recipes that will make welcoming the New Year more special and memorable. We hope you enjoy this list of Lucky Food for the New Year as much as we have.