THINGS TO DO

5 lucky foods for New Year's

INDY

This story, originally published Dec. 31, 2013, has been updated.

Did you know that in Spain, it's considered good luck to eat one grape with each stroke of the clock at midnight? Or that in Greece, a pomegranate is smashed on the floor when the clock strikes 12? Around the world, certain foods are thought to bring good fortune when consumed (or in the case of the poor pomegranate, destroyed) on New Year's Eve.

Here are five lucky foods to eat on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day for your most prosperous year yet.

1. Ring-shaped foods

Ring-shaped food is believed to bring good luck for the New Year.

These foods should be eaten to signify the year coming full circle. Enjoy ring shaped foods like doughnuts or bagels before you swear off carbs — or at least for the first two weeks of the new year.

Long's Bakery, 2301 E. Southport Road, (317) 783-1442 or 2300 W. 16th St., (317) 632-3741..

2. Pork

Pig is a food believed by many to bring fortune for the New Year.

Many people think pork is the luckiest of foods to eat on New Year's Day — whether because of its fat or because of the way pigs "root forward." Swing into Indy's premiere pork destination Goose the Market where you can find everything from whole hams to culatello, made from a rear pig leg that's been massaged under spices and white wine for 30 days.

Goose the Market, 2503 N. Delaware St., prices vary, (317) 924-4944, goosethemarket.com.

3. Whole fish

Whole fish is considered a lucky food for New Years. Pictured here is American Red Snapper with sweet chili sauce and coconut rice. ($32), 8605 River Crossing.

A whole fish is a symbol of prosperity. This one might be a bit much to tackle (Get it? Tackle!) at home, but if you're looking for a place to spend New Year's Eve, head to Late Harvest Kitchen. The roasted daily whole fish is a staple on chef Ryan Nelson's menu.

Late Harvest Kitchen, 8605 River Crossing Blvd., $32, excluding tax and gratuity, call (317) 663-8063 for reservations, lateharvestkitchen.com.

4. Black-eyed peas

Black eyed peas are a popular New Year's dish in the South, said to bring good luck in the New year.

In the South, eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is said to invite good fortune. Perhaps the Black-eyed Pea Hummus from Punch Bowl Social will do the trick.

Punch Bowl Social, 120 S Meridian St., (317) 249-8613, punchbowlsocial.com.

5. Corned beef and cabbage

Corned beef and cabbage is a popular "lucky" dish to serve on New Year's Eve.

Corned beef and cabbage on New Year's is associated with the fortune you should hope for in the coming year. Beef or pork is the meat of choice because unlike chickens these animals do not scratch in the dirt for their food. It's said that if you eat chicken on New Year's Day you are setting your destiny for the coming year to scratch in the dirt for your survival, which sounds pretty awful if you ask us. Cabbage is light green, like paper money. And who couldn't use more of that? Pick yours up (the corned beef not the money) at Kincaid's Meat Market.

Kincaid's Meat Market, 5605 N. Illinois St., (317) 255-5497, kincaidsmeatmarket.com .