India, Jan. 1 -- From sweet beginnings to symbolic bites, the world welcomes January 1 with food meant to invite luck, prosperity and new beginnings. From lentils and fish to dumplings and jaggery, here are some New Year food traditions that prove that hope is often served on a plate.

In India, sweetness is a must! People enjoy sweets made with jaggery, sugar, or honey on January 1 to ensure life stays sweet throughout the year. In Maharashtra, a unique combo of neem and jaggery is eaten to embrace both bitter and sweet experiences of life. Rice-based dishes, such as Pongal in Tamil Nadu and Pitha in eastern India, symbolise abundance and fertility.

In China, food traditions are rich with meaning. Dumplings shaped like ancient gold ingo...