The first week of January marks the return to the office after the Christmas break, and how that moment is handled sets the tone for the year. This post looks at what New Year means culturally, the food associations of the season in Britain and beyond, and how to plan a January team lunch that genuinely welcomes people back.
New Year across cultures: food and tradition
New Year is one of the few occasions celebrated across almost every culture, though the date, customs, and foods vary considerably. The Gregorian new year on 1 January is marked widely in Britain with resolutions, social gatherings, and the expectation of a fresh start. Scottish Hogmanay, observed on 31 December and into 1 January, carries its own traditions including first-footing, where the first person to cross the threshold after midnight traditionally brings symbolic gifts such as coal, shortbread, or whisky.
In many East Asian cultures, Lunar New Year — falling between late January and mid-February — is the more significant celebration, marked by family meals, specific foods associated with good fortune, and several days of festivities. In Iranian and Afghan communities, Nowruz in March is the traditional new year, with elaborate spreads of symbolic dishes. The diversity of new year traditions in a London office means the occasion resonates differently across colleagues, which makes it a natural starting point for shared food rather than a single cultural reference.
January food culture: resolutions and nutrition
January in Britain is associated with dietary renewal. Dry January — the Alcohol Concern campaign encouraging a month off alcohol — has grown significantly since its launch in 2013 and now attracts millions of participants. Veganuary, running concurrently, encourages plant-based eating for the month. Beyond these campaigns, the start of a new year is when dietary intentions are at their highest, and the food environment of the workplace has real influence on whether those intentions are sustained.
A team lunch that offers whole-ingredient, protein-forward food — genuinely satisfying rather than calorically dense and nutritionally light — aligns with the mood of the season without being prescriptive about individual dietary choices. The contrast with the December excess is felt without needing to be named.
Why the January return matters as an office moment
The first full week back after the Christmas break is a moment of comparison and recalibration. Colleagues return with fresh eyes, reassess their working environment, and make judgements — often unconscious — about whether this organisation is one worth committing to for another year. The decision about how to welcome people back is not trivial.
A quality team lunch on the first day back signals investment in the team without requiring a lengthy speech or a formal event. It creates a shared moment of warmth that a desk-at-home default cannot. For hybrid teams, it provides a reason to be in the office on a specific day — one of the practical challenges of post-pandemic working patterns that food can genuinely help to solve.
Planning a January team lunch in London
January is one of the more straightforward catering months in the City — the pressure of the December peak has passed, and availability is generally good. For offices that want to mark the new year with food, a booking a week or so in advance is usually sufficient, though earlier is always better for larger orders.
Vanda's Kitchen prepares fresh food daily from the Carter Lane kitchen near St Paul's, with certified halal, 100% nut-free, and full allergen labelling as standard. The menu is designed to be varied across multiple orders, which matters for a workplace that wants to build a food culture through the year rather than order once and repeat. Minimum order is £150, with free delivery on orders over £600.
For New Year catering across London — independently halal-certified, 100% nut-free and fully allergen-labelled — browse our catering shop or WhatsApp the kitchen.
Frequently asked questions
How is New Year celebrated differently across cultures represented in London offices?
New Year falls on different dates depending on cultural and religious tradition. The Gregorian new year is 1 January; Lunar New Year falls between late January and mid-February; Iranian Nowruz is in March. Scottish Hogmanay on 31 December has its own distinct traditions. A London workplace is likely to include colleagues for whom one or more of these dates carries particular significance.
What foods are associated with good luck on New Year in different traditions?
Food symbolism around New Year varies widely. In many East Asian traditions, dumplings, fish, and long noodles are associated with prosperity and longevity. In parts of southern Europe, lentils symbolise coins and good fortune. In Scotland, shortbread, black bun, and coal are traditional first-footing gifts. In the American South, black-eyed peas and collard greens are eaten on New Year's Day for luck.
What is Dry January and how does it affect office catering choices?
Dry January is a public health campaign encouraging people to abstain from alcohol for the month of January. It has grown considerably since its early years and now has millions of participants across the UK. For office catering, it reinforces a general shift towards lighter, more nutritious food in January — a mood that whole-ingredient, freshly prepared catering fits well.
Does Vanda's Kitchen deliver in the first week of January?
Vanda's Kitchen delivers from the first working Monday of January. January is generally a more available month than December, so booking a week or so in advance is usually sufficient. The kitchen is closed on public holidays but operates normally throughout the rest of January and February.
What is the minimum order for a January team lunch delivery?
The minimum order is £150, with free delivery on orders over £600 across all delivery zones. Vanda's Kitchen covers the City of London and central London postcodes, with delivery available Monday to Friday.
Related: Nowruz: Persian New Year and Office Celebrations in London · Vaisakhi Office Celebrations: Catering for the Sikh and Punjabi New Year in London