Pickled herring , lentils and noodles all make appearances on global New Year 's menus . In the American South , hoppin ' john , made with rice and field peas , is said to bring good luck . Austrian revelers drink a red wine punch with cinnamon and spices , eat suckling pig for dinner and decorate the table with little pigs made of marzipan , called marzipanschwein . The Chinese have a similar tradition of eating pickled fish at this time as well.
Pickled herring , lentils and noodles all make appearances on global New Year 's menus . In the American South , hoppin ' john , made with rice and field peas , is said to bring good luck . The Chinese have a similar tradition of eating pickled fish at this time as well.