The New Year’s tradition of serving Hoppin’ John dates back to Freedom’s Eve on December 31, 1862, when enslaved people congregated in churches, staying awake until midnight in anticipation of the Emancipation Proclamation, according to Toni Tipton-Martin’s Jubilee: Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking.
For a lighter option, swap the pork with smoked turkey. Add jalapeños and bell peppers for a hint of spice, and pair your dish with cornbread and braised collard greens. (According to Southern folklore, a fresh collard green leaf above your door wards off any evil spirits.)
Colombia
Instead of your typical New Year’s resolutions or Pinterest vision board, consider the Colombian tradition of rolling an empty suitcase around the block—a way to manifest a year of travel. (Think about your dream destinations while you’re at it.) Other Colombian superstitions include filling up your pockets with lentils on New Year’s Eve as a manifestation of fortune, and making your first step into the new year with your right foot forward—literally.
Philippines
Fireworks light up the Manila skyline in the Philippines.Photo: Getty Images
On New Year’s Eve, families in the Philippines serve a spread of any 12 round fruits—apples, grapes, blueberries—as a sweet ode to prosperity for the coming year. Locals may also don polka dots, viewing their coin-shaped design as a harbinger of good fortune.
Greece
Post-church service on New Year’s Day, Greek households often hang an onion outside their door: the onion is a potent symbol of fertility and rebirth, due to its ability to sprout independently. Parents may also wake up their children by gently tapping their heads with the onion, marking new beginnings.
Brazil
Photo: Getty Images