Lentils are the Italian New Year's Eve food traditionally associated with prosperity.
Their small, round, coin-like appearance makes them a symbol of money and financial abundance. In Italy, lentils are commonly served around New Year's Eve or New Year's Day, often with cotechino or zampone, rich pork sausages and preparations associated with the holiday meal.
The symbolism is especially connected with the way lentils resemble coins and multiply as they cook. The dish is therefore a food-based wish for wealth in the coming year rather than merely an ordinary winter meal.
The exact menu varies across Italy and among families. Not every region serves the same sausage or preparation, and the lentils may be eaten before or after midnight. A common mistake is to identify grapes as the Italian custom; the 12-grape ritual is most strongly associated with Spain, while lentils are a widely recognized Italian New Year's good-luck food.