In Greece, a pomegranate is traditionally smashed or cut open at New Year to symbolize prosperity.
The pomegranate has long been associated with abundance because one fruit contains many seeds. In Greek New Year customs, families may hang a pomegranate near the entrance or smash one outside the home after returning from church. The scattered seeds are interpreted as a sign of good fortune, health, and prosperity for the household.
The practice connects modern celebrations with older Greek symbolism. Pomegranates appear in ancient Greek mythology and art, including stories involving Persephone, and the fruit has continued to carry associations with fertility and abundance. Exact New Year practices differ between regions and families, so the fruit may be broken at different points in the celebration.
This custom is sometimes confused with Greek vasilopita, a New Year's cake containing a hidden coin. The cake and the pomegranate are separate traditions: finding the coin is lucky, while the many seeds of the pomegranate provide the central symbolism in the fruit ritual.