Lentils are traditionally eaten in Italy on New Year’s Eve because their shape resembles coins.
Italian New Year meals commonly pair lentils with cotechino, a seasoned pork sausage, or with zampone, a stuffed pig’s trotter. The small, round lentils symbolize money and prosperity, while pork is associated with abundance and the idea of moving forward into the new year.
The foods are especially associated with the dinner on December 31 and the first meal of January 1. Regional recipes differ, and families may serve lentils as a stew, alongside sausage, or as part of a larger celebratory meal. The symbolism is more important than a single standardized recipe.
Lentils are sometimes described as a Roman tradition, but modern Italian customs developed through many regional foodways. The dish should not be confused with the Spanish grape ritual or the Greek vasilopita tradition: those are separate New Year customs with different symbolic foods.