Lentils are eaten in Italy on New Year's Eve as a symbol of wealth and prosperity.
The custom is commonly associated with lentils served alongside cotechino, a traditional Italian pork sausage. Their small, round shape resembles coins, so eating them is linked symbolically with money and financial good fortune in the coming year. The dish is particularly associated with the New Year's period rather than with a single city or region.
Cotechino is a cooked sausage made with pork, including rind and other parts that give it a rich texture. It is often served hot with lentils after midnight or as part of the New Year's meal. Vegetarian versions and regional variations also exist, but lentils remain the prosperity symbol.
The tradition is sometimes described as a guarantee of wealth, but it is a cultural good-luck custom, not a literal prediction. Lentils appear in many cuisines worldwide, so the specifically Italian New Year's pairing with cotechino helps identify the tradition.