In Italy, many people eat lentils around New Year's Eve to symbolize money and prosperity.
The round, coin-like shape of lentils gives them their good-luck association. A traditional dish pairs lentils with cotechino, a large cooked pork sausage, or with zampone, a stuffed pig's trotter. The meal is commonly served at the transition into the new year or on New Year's Day.
The symbolism reflects a broader European pattern in which foods are linked with hoped-for abundance. Lentils are inexpensive, nourishing, and capable of swelling as they cook, which also makes them a natural emblem of growth and plenty.
This custom should not be confused with Italy's separate tradition of wearing red garments or accessories for luck. Regional practices differ, so not every Italian family observes the lentil meal in exactly the same way.