Lentils are traditionally eaten for good luck at New Year’s Eve in Italy. Their small, round shape is commonly associated with coins, so eating them symbolizes hopes for prosperity in the coming year.
The dish is often served with cotechino, a cooked Italian pork sausage, or with zampone, a stuffed pig’s trotter. Pork can represent abundance, while the lentils provide the specific money-related symbolism. Recipes and serving customs vary between families and regions.
The tradition is part of a wider pattern of New Year foods linked to wealth and renewal. For example, peas, beans, and lentils appear in celebrations in several countries because their shapes or ability to swell during cooking suggest abundance. Italian customs are not identical everywhere, but lentils are the standard good-luck food associated with prosperity.