Before serving, a drinking glass is used to cut out the center portion, leaving a ring of cake. Folklore dictates no one see the first cutting, English says, so a napkin is draped over the glass and the center portion is reserved for Saint Basil. Then the cake is sliced. Those who find treasure in their dessert are the luckiest of all. Beating the clock For Germans, another sort of pastry guarantees good tidings.
Tradition dictates pancakes be the first food consumed in the new year.
In fact, says English, often the batter is prepared and ladled onto the skillet while the clock is striking midnight. For each clock strike at midnight on New Year's Eve, explains English, one grape is eaten. Good fortune is only gotten by consuming all twelve grapes before the clock stops chiming. For Italians, a spoonful of lentils is sure to bring money in the new year, and pork, known for its high fat content, represents the bounty of the land and hopes for prosperity. In Japan, New Year's Day is the most important day of the year, English says.