What fruit is traditionally smashed for good luck at New Year in Greece?

In Greece, a pomegranate is traditionally smashed for good luck at New Year.

The custom involves breaking the fruit, often against the entrance of a home, after the New Year begins. The many seeds scattered by the impact are associated with abundance, fertility and prosperity for the household in the coming year.

Pomegranates have deep roots in Greek mythology and religion. In the myth of Persephone, eating pomegranate seeds links her to the underworld, making the fruit a long-standing symbol in Greek culture. That older symbolism helps explain why the fruit appears in modern seasonal customs.

The practice is not identical in every Greek region or family. Some households hang a pomegranate at the door before New Year's Day and smash it afterward, while others buy a fresh fruit specifically for the ceremony. It is distinct from eating pomegranate seeds as an ordinary festive dish.