In Italy, lentils eaten at New Year’s Eve are popularly believed to symbolize prosperity.
Their round, coin-like shape is associated with money, so serving lentils at the turn of the year expresses a wish for financial abundance. A classic Italian New Year meal pairs lentils with cotechino, a cooked pork sausage, or with zampone, a stuffed pig’s trotter. Pork is also connected with abundance and the idea of moving forward.
The meal is especially associated with northern and central Italian food traditions, although New Year customs vary by region and household. Lentils may be served just before or after midnight, and many families treat the dish as a good-luck food rather than a religious requirement.
The symbolism is cultural rather than a claim that lentils guarantee wealth. Italy shares similar New Year food symbolism with other countries, but its lentil-and-cotechino pairing is particularly recognizable.