Greens for Gold: Cabbage and Collards Rule New Year’s Tables

Bring a little extra luck to your New Year with these foods

From Eastern Europe to the American South, leafy greens carry hopes of wealth, health, and long life into the year ahead

Greens for Gold

Across cultures and continents, one humble vegetable consistently appears on New Year’s tables: cabbage. In Eastern Europe, Ireland, and parts of the United States, cabbage is often considered a symbol of luck and wealth, largely due to its green color, which is reminiscent of money. It’s commonly enjoyed in comfort dishes such as cabbage rolls or served alongside favorites like pierogi and kielbasa, blending nourishment with tradition.

In Germany and throughout Eastern Europe, sauerkraut takes center stage. The finely shredded, fermented cabbage is believed to bring prosperity—the more shreds eaten, the greater the fortune hoped for in the coming year. This belief made practical sense, too, as cabbage harvested in late fall and fermented for six to eight weeks would be perfectly ready just as the new year arrived.

You don’t know till you Dan O: New Year’s Cabbage Soup

Elsewhere in Eastern Europe, green cabbage remains a New Year’s staple not just for symbolism, but for practicality. It’s affordable, filling, and versatile—qualities that align well with the hope of saving money and starting the year wisely. From stuffed cabbage to coleslaw, quick homemade sauerkraut, or even Japanese cabbage salad, the vegetable adapts easily across cuisines. Some traditions even suggest that the long strands of cabbage in sauerkraut or coleslaw symbolize long life.

These customs traveled across the Atlantic with immigrants and became deeply rooted in American culture, particularly among the Pennsylvania Dutch. There, pork and sauerkraut are traditionally served together on New Year’s Day to usher in abundance, good health, and a prosperous start. Pork symbolized progress and forward motion, while cabbage and sauerkraut stood for financial stability.

In the American South, collard greens take on a similar role. Their deep green leaves are said to represent paper money, making them a popular New Year’s dish. Whether sautéed with garlic, stewed with beans, or added to soups like minestrone, collards carry the same message of abundance. This broader category of leafy greens—collards, Swiss chard, kale—has roots in traditions from the African diaspora and the Civil War era. They’re often paired with black-eyed peas, thought to represent coins, creating a plate full of symbolism and nourishment.

Beyond wealth and luck, there’s also a health angle. Starting the year with a plate of greens feels like a quiet promise to take better care of oneself, blending physical wellness with cultural meaning.

I love how these traditions turn simple, everyday foods into powerful symbols of hope. Whether it’s sauerkraut in Germany, cabbage in Eastern Europe, or collard greens in the American South, the message is the same: start the year grounded, grateful, and mindful of both health and prosperity. There’s something comforting about believing that a humble green leaf can carry big dreams into the future.

Source: