A pomegranate is traditionally smashed at Greek New Year's celebrations to bring good luck.
In a Greek custom called ποδαρικό, or podariko, a pomegranate may be thrown and broken at the entrance of a home on New Year's Day. The scattered seeds are read as a sign of abundance, health, happiness, and prosperity for the household. The pomegranate's many seeds make it a natural symbol of fertility and plenty.
The ritual is also connected with the broader Greek practice of welcoming the first person to cross the threshold after midnight or on New Year's Day. Some families place a pomegranate near an icon or keep it in the home before breaking it, and regional details vary.
This practice should not be confused with eating pomegranate seeds as a general holiday dessert. The distinctive New Year's action is the breaking or smashing of the fruit, with the number and spread of the seeds carrying symbolic importance.