In Italy, lentils are traditionally eaten at New Year's as a symbol of prosperity.
The association comes from the legumes' small, round shape, which can resemble coins. Eating lentils is therefore linked with hopes for financial good fortune in the coming year. They are commonly served as part of a festive meal, often alongside cotechino or zampone, two traditional pork products from northern Italy.
The meal is especially connected with the transition from December 31 to January 1, although regional recipes and serving times differ. Cotechino is a cooked pork sausage, while zampone is a stuffed pig's trotter; both are frequently paired with lentils in New Year's menus. The combination is a culinary tradition rather than a required national ritual.
Lentils also appear in other Italian dishes throughout the year, so their presence alone does not prove that a meal is a New Year's meal. Their symbolic role at New Year comes from the coin-like appearance and the broader idea that eating auspicious foods can encourage prosperity. Regional customs may add grapes, nuts, or other foods with their own meanings.