In Greece, the pomegranate is traditionally smashed or hung at the entrance during New Year celebrations to symbolize prosperity.
The custom is especially associated with the Greek New Year, when a pomegranate may be broken on a doorstep after midnight or on New Year’s Day. Its many seeds are treated as a sign of abundance, good fortune, and a prosperous year ahead. In some households, a pomegranate is also hung near the home before the celebration.
The symbolism has deep roots in Greek culture and mythology. The fruit appears in ancient stories, including the myth of Persephone, although modern New Year customs are Christian and folk traditions with varied regional forms. Practices differ between families and communities.
This tradition is separate from the Spanish custom of eating 12 grapes at midnight. Both use fruit as a New Year symbol, but the Greek practice focuses on the pomegranate’s seeds and the act of breaking or displaying the fruit.