What is the New Year's Eve feast in Italy traditionally associated with lentils?

In Italy, New Year's Eve is traditionally associated with cotechino and lentils.

Cotechino is a seasoned pork sausage, usually served hot, while lentils are valued for their small, coin-like appearance. Eating the dish around New Year's is widely interpreted as a wish for prosperity in the coming year. The pairing is especially associated with northern and central Italian festive meals, although menus vary by region and family.

Cotechino is made from pork rind, pork meat, and fat, with spices added to the mixture. It is generally cooked slowly and served in slices. Zampone, another stuffed pork specialty, is a closely related alternative in Italian New Year's cuisine.

The lentil tradition illustrates a common European pattern in which round or coin-shaped foods symbolize money. It is not the same as eating lentils on January 1 everywhere in Italy: households may serve them on New Year's Eve, at midnight, or on New Year's Day depending on local custom.