3 Strange New Years’ Eve Food Traditions from Around the World

Photo by Maike Klip on Unsplash

In many cultures and countries, traditional food or drinks are consumed on New Years’ Eve when the clock strikes midnight.

Here are three of the strangest gastronomic New Years’ traditions from around the world.

Spain: 12 Grapes

In Spain, it is tradition to consume 12 grapes at the strike of the clock on New Years’ Eve. What’s so strange about this? Well, Spaniards stuff one grape into their mouth at the stroke of every second beginning at 11:59:48 until their mouths are full at midnight and they can finally eat them.

Pickled Herring: Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland

Pickled herring is made of dehydrated herring, a small fish that lives throughout the northern waters of the Atlantic, which has been marinated in a brine solution.

It might not sound appetizing, but in these Northern European cultures, eating pickled herring on New Years’ Eve is supposed to bring good fortune for the new year.

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Soba Noodles: Japan

A New Years’ Eve tradition in Japan is to eat soba noodles when the clock strikes midnight on New Years’.

Soba noodles are made from buckwheat flour and are usually eaten in a broth with vegetables and spices. Eating these noodles on January 1st is supposed to cleanse the body and mind and prepare it for the year ahead.