In Italy, lentils eaten at New Year's Eve are traditionally said to symbolize wealth.
Their round, coin-like shape is linked to money and prosperity. Italian households commonly serve lentils during the New Year period, often with cotechino or zampone, two pork specialties. The combination is associated with hopes for abundance in the coming year.
Cotechino is a cooked sausage made from pork, while zampone is a stuffed pig’s trotter. Regional recipes and serving customs differ, but the symbolism of lentils is widespread. Lentils are also practical winter food: they are nutritious, inexpensive, and keep well when dried.
The tradition is a folk custom rather than a guarantee of financial success. Its meaning comes from visual symbolism and the broader association of pork with progress or plenty in some Italian traditions. New Year’s Eve food customs vary considerably across Italy, so not every region prepares the same dish in the same way.