In Greece, a pomegranate is traditionally smashed at midnight or on New Year's Day for luck.
The custom is associated with abundance, fertility and prosperity because a pomegranate contains many seeds. In some Greek households, the fruit is smashed against the entrance of the home after the family returns from church or at the turn of the year. The number of seeds scattered is sometimes interpreted as a sign of the household's future good fortune.
Greek New Year's celebrations also include vasilopita, a cake named for Saint Basil. A coin is hidden inside it, and the person who receives the slice containing the coin is believed to have good luck for the year. These customs are related but are not the same ritual.
The pomegranate practice has older Mediterranean and classical associations, but modern Greek observance varies by region and family. It should not be confused with Spain's midnight grape custom or with the Greek New Year's cake tradition.