(Note: Some of the countries below do not celebrate their new year on January 1st as the U.S. and many western nations using the the Julian calendar do. I understand this but have chosen to include them regardless.)
Germany: Pork and Saurkraut
Ireland: Corned Beef Hash and Cabbage
The other half of my lineage is Irish, so I thought it only right to mention Ole Eire in this post. Despite my Irish roots, the first time I had Corned Beef Hash and Cabbage was New Years Day 2013. I enjoyed the way the dish tasted but I was nervous about the saltiness of it. I always tend to steer clear of meats that are salted which pretty much means all the meats ending in -ami are right out. Although it isn't spelled Corned Beefami my sodium chloride sense was tingling, so New Years Day will almost inevitably be the only day I ever have the dish.
France: Crepes and Fresh Baked Goods
Leave it to the French to bring in the new year by eating dessert. I never thought I'd say it but I think that French finally got one right. Out of all the foods on this list this seems like the runaway for tastiest and most delectable. Searching for the proper picture had my mouth watering Mmmm Mmmm. Crepes...Why did it have to be Crepes? 
Brazil: Lentils
This is the part of the list where the cuisine being discussed will probably become unfamiliar to most American's. I have encountered lentils before in Indian food but for those who are not accustom to them I have provided a handy explanation.
Definition:
noun
plural noun: lentils
1. a high-protein pulse that is dried and then soaked and cooked before eating. There are several varieties of lentils, including green ones and smaller orange ones, which are typically sold split.
2. the plant that yields lentils, native to the Mediterranean and Africa and grown also for fodder.
Macedonia and Eastern Europe: Pork Cabbage Rolls
India: Puri and Shrikhand
Indian Puri is a small wheat cake that is shaped into a circular biscuit or roll. It is often served as a breakfast dish but on New Year's Day it is commonly paired with Shrikhand which is a sweet yogurt flavored with saffron, cardamom, nuts, and fresh fruit.
Japan: Osechi Ryori
I would recommend taking a break from reading this post now to search for some more images of Osechi Ryori (and to officially subscribe to this blog). Osechi Ryori is an amazing dish to look at, it is a feast for the eyes as well as the stomach. Osechi Royori is traditionally served in a special box called a Jubako and there are numerous variations of food that can be ordered in each box. Foods that are commonly included are: lobster, black beans, pickled vegetables, sweets, seaweed, sardines, eggs, prawns, bream, and rice. There are many other foods that can be included in these boxes and as the picture above shows there is no shortage of choices.
Spain, Mexico, and Latin America: Grapes
In many countries with Spanish heritage it is tradition to eat 12 grapes on New Years Eve. This practice dates back to the late 19th century when vineyard owners pushed the ritual in order to sell more grapes. It is customary to eat one grape on each of the 12 clock strikes on December 31st when welcoming in the new year. So I guess technically this is a New Years Eve food but ohh well.
Iran: Polow
There is not much information available on why this is traditionally thought of as a New Years dish but from what I was able gather Polow usually consists of; Persian rice, vegetables, and a type of meat. Depending on where the dish is being served the meat varies between fish, beef, chicken, and lamb.
Russia: Russian Herring Salad
Alright Bloggers, I Hope you enjoyed the 10 picture world tour, get out there and try some new food in 2014!!! Even if it's Herring Under a Fur Coat and have a Happy New Year!!!
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