Which Greek New Year's Eve custom involves smashing a pomegranate for prosperity?

The Greek New Year's Eve custom involving a smashed pomegranate is called pomegranate smashing.

In this tradition, a pomegranate is broken at the entrance of a home, often after the family returns from a New Year’s church service. The many seeds are associated with abundance, fertility, and prosperity. Some people interpret the number of seeds scattered as a sign of the household’s good fortune in the coming year.

The pomegranate has deep roots in Greek culture and mythology. In the ancient Greek story of Persephone, eating pomegranate seeds ties her to the underworld, giving the fruit an important symbolic role long before the modern holiday custom.

Practices vary among Greek regions and families. The fruit may be smashed by a designated family member, and the ceremony may occur on New Year’s Day rather than precisely at midnight. It should not be confused with vasilopita, the Greek New Year cake that traditionally contains a hidden coin.