
New Year's Food Quiz
As the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, people around the globe welcome the new year in countless ways—fireworks, resolutions, countdowns, and, of course, food. But did you know that what's on your plate could determine your fortune for the next year? That's right! For centuries, cultures have embraced food rituals to ring in the new year with good luck, prosperity, and happiness.
If you've ever wondered why Italians eat lentils, why Spaniards pop 12 grapes at midnight, or why Koreans feast on tteokguk (rice cake soup), this quiz is your chance to learn—and have some fun along the way.
But first, let's set the table with some tasty tidbits about New Year's food traditions from around the world. Whether you're a foodie or just love quirky customs, there's something here to tickle your taste buds.
Food in New Year's Celebrations
Food has always been more than just sustenance—it's a way to connect, celebrate, and hope. Around the world, New Year's dishes are packed with symbolism. The ingredients, shapes, and even the number of servings often carry special meaning.
Some popular themes in New Year's foods include:
- Prosperity: Foods that look like coins or are golden in color are believed to bring wealth.
- Longevity: Long noodles or pasta represent a long life (but don't break them while cooking!).
- Luck: Round foods symbolize completeness and unity, perfect for a fresh start.
- Purity and new beginnings: White foods, like rice or milk-based dishes, often signify a clean slate.
Around the World in 5 Plates
Let's take a quick trip around the globe and sample a few standout New Year's dishes.
- Spain: At the stroke of midnight, Spaniards eat 12 grapes—one for each chime of the clock. Successfully eating all 12 in time means good luck for the year ahead. Pro tip: pick small, seedless ones to avoid choking!
- Japan: Toshikoshi soba, or year-crossing noodles, are served on New Year's Eve. The long noodles represent a wish for longevity and resilience.
- Southern United States: A traditional New Year's meal includes black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread. Each symbolizes wealth and prosperity in its own way—coins, cash, and gold, respectively.
- Italy: Italians ring in the year with lentils, a food believed to bring wealth because they resemble coins. They often pair it with cotechino (a type of sausage) for extra flavor and luck.
- China: During Lunar New Year, families enjoy dumplings, which resemble ancient gold ingots. Though Lunar New Year falls on a different date, the focus on food and fortune is equally significant.
How to Take the New Year's Food Quiz
Ready to test your foodie knowledge? Here's how it works:
- Click "Start Quiz" to begin. Each question will feature a New Year's food tradition and give you multiple-choice answers.
- Pick the answer you think is correct. Don't stress—this is all about having fun and learning something new.
- After each question, you'll see an explanation about the correct answer, so you'll learn as you go.
- Finish the quiz to earn points and climb our leaderboard! Completing quizzes and earning high scores is the key to becoming a trivia champion on our site.
Can You Guess the Festive New Year's Dishes?
Think of this New Year's food quiz as a mini trip around the world—without leaving your couch. You'll discover the rich history and meaning behind New Year's dishes and maybe even find inspiration for your own celebrations. Who knows? Maybe you'll be eating soba or lentils this December 31st.
So grab a snack, get comfortable, and let's explore the delicious ways the world celebrates New Year's. When you're ready, hit the "Start Quiz" button and show us what you've got!
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Get PremiumNew Year's Food Quiz Questions
Which legume is traditionally eaten in the Southern United States for good luck on New Year's Day?

Lentils
Kidney beans
Chickpeas
Black-eyed peas
Which fruit, often eaten at New Year in Spain, is associated with good luck?

Apples
Oranges
Grapes
Olives
In Italy, which dish symbolizes wealth and is commonly eaten on New Year's Eve?

Lentils and sausage
Risotto
Gnocchi
Pasta
What food, symbolizing continuity, is popular in the Philippines during New Year celebrations?

Round fruits
Fish
Rice cakes
Bananas
In which country do people drop ice cream on the ground during New Year's for good luck?

Japan
Argentina
Switzerland
Italy
What fermented food is traditionally enjoyed during New Year's celebrations in Germany?

Yogurt
Olives
Sauerkraut
Pickles
In Japan, which food is eaten on New Year's Eve to symbolize long life?

Udon noodles
Dango
Ramen
Soba
In Greece, what item is baked into the bread, called Vasilopita, for New Year's Day?

Jelly bean
Diamond
Fig
Coin
What sweet treat is eaten in the Netherlands on New Year's Eve?

Zeppole
Stroopwafel
Oliebollen
Berliner
In Brazil, what type of meat is avoided on New Year's Eve as it symbolizes moving backward?

Poultry
Pork
Beef
Fish
Which fruit is commonly eaten during Lunar New Year in China and other Asian countries?

Pomegranates
Apples
Lemons
Mandarin oranges
In Scotland, what is the traditional drink to toast the New Year, known as Hogmanay?

Gin
Whiskey
Cider
Beer
What vegetable is eaten alongside corned beef in Irish American culture during New Year's and other celebrations?

Cabbage
Spinach
Parsnips
Sweet potatoes
Little pigs made of marzipan are often given during New Year's in which country?

France
Ivory Coast
Germany
South Korea
In Mexico, what traditional dish is prepared in large quantities for New Year celebrations?

Quesadillas
Churros
Tamales
Tacos
Which fish dish is traditionally eaten in Poland and Scandinavia at New Year's for good luck?

Fried mackerel
Smoked salmon
Pickled herring
Baked cod
This towering cake made of almond rings is a traditional New Year's dessert in what countries?

Ukraine and Poland
Spain and Portugal
France and UK
Denmark and Norway
What food do Koreans eat as part of their Seollal (Lunar New Year) tradition?

Kimchi
Bulgogi
Bibimbap
Tteokguk (rice cake soup)
11 Comments
8/18
8 / 18 – 44% Happy New Year 2025
9/18 👍🏻
9/18
18/18 terrific!!!!
13/18 Happy New Year!
13/18 too. I have never heard of almost all of these. I don’t know how I guessed enough to get 13. It didn’t feel like that many while I was doing it and guessing wrong so many times.
4/18
THIS QUIZ IS IMPOSSIBLE I DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT NEW YEAR’S FOODS
Ask Kira, she always get every quiz right.
No, I commented on her once and asked her a question and she never answered
18/18