Saturday, January 1, 2011

Black-Eyed Peas at the New Year!

I have never been one to make New Years resolutions. But I am a person who is bound by tradition. According to southern folklore, the first food to be eaten on New Year's Day for luck and prosperity for the year ahead are black-eyed peas. From grand gourmet dinners to small casual gatherings with friends and family, these legumes are traditionally offered.

The practice of eating black-eyed peas for luck is believed to date back to the Civil War. They were first planted as food for livestock, and later as a food staple for slaves in the South. The fields of black-eyed peas were ignored as Sherman's troops destroyed or stole other crops, giving the humble, black-eyed pea an important role as a major food source for surviving Confederates.

However it got started, traditions change and morph over the years. But there is no doubt that eating black-eyed peas is a truth held sacred by many southerners who may never touch a black-eyed pea at any other time of the year. But a little luck never hurt anyone, right? So here’s to 2011!! (And it’s still not too late to go get your black-eyed peas!)

34 comments:

  1. Black eyed peas are delicious! My mother would cook them anytime, but I had never heard of them as a New Year's day tradition until I married and my MIL fixed them on New Years Day. Mother would make a big pot and season them with ham and we'd eat them like a bowl of beans with cornbread. The next day, we'd make cold black eyed peas sandwiches!

    Thanks for the interesting information on this tradition, Kim. Happy New Year to you and enjoy your black eyed peas!

    Liz

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  2. I think I'll eat some of my 4-leaf clovers instead. :)

    God bless you!!!

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  3. We did! We had blackeyed peas last night! But it was just a coincidence, in fact, it was left over from some other dinner. The tradition was unknown to me.

    I hope the good luck "sticks", even though I did not know about it. You think?

    Have a Happy and Prosperous New Year!

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  4. With turnip greens and chitterlings ?

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  5. Black-eyed peas with rice and gravy...
    Happy New Year!

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  6. I love black eyed peas ~ but we are having brunch with bacon, eggs, and pancakes in about an hour. We are starting the year off with fat and cholesterol... oh well... we can only get better from there. :)

    A lucky 2011 to you Kim!
    xo Catherine

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  7. I never knew that !!!
    Happy New Year Kim xx

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  8. Yep, Kim,

    My Mom used to always feed us black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, though not for breakfast (LOL). I hated them, but she insisted they were good luck for the year to come. As an adult, I have opted to fore-go the black-eyed peas, deeming them just so much silliness... HOWEVER.... yesterday, while at the grocery store, I found myself inexplicably looking for those "bringers of good fortune" and don't ya know I bought some. I'll be eating them today, with the conviction that if there is even a CHANCE they will bring us a good 2011, I am all for it!

    Happy New Year!

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  9. We could use some luck this year - maybe we should try it?

    Happy New Year!

    Sam

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  10. Happy New Year to you all!
    xoxo
    ~K

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  11. Being Yankee dogs, we were wondering, What are black-eyed Peas? Our human reminded us that he knows how far South he is at any given time by checking the menu. If the iced tea is pre-sweetened, if the vegetable of the day is always grits, if the side dish is black-eyed peas, then he knows he is getting down South.

    Have a Happy New Year!

    Mogley G. Retriever

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  12. Now that sounds like a good idea...traditions are the best! So from all of us in the northern climes...enjoy your beans 'cause I know you're full of them, eh!:-)

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  13. Happy New Year my friend, Loved hearing about black-eyed peas(never had them before). We are having our oldest and her family for dinner tonight-turkey, potatoes, salad etc etc. May the New Year be rich and blessed for you. I've loved stopping by your place-you always bring joy to my heart.
    Hugs, Noreen

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  14. Happy New Year, Kim! Thanks for this interesting information. It makes sense that you should have some for luck in the New Year.--Inger

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  15. I like them, the way that I fix them - baked with honey and crisp bacon added to the top.

    We won't be having any today, I don't really believe a food is a lucky thing, especially if it's swimming in greasy hog jowl juice (the good luck food in our neighborhood). Blech!

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  16. Gee, I was planning on making some split-pea with ham soup today. I wonder if that will be close enough...

    Wishing you the BEST of New Years!

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  17. that is a southern tradition, not one that we follow.

    Wanted to wish you a Happy New Year to all your two legged and four legged family....

    Gill in Canada

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  18. Black eyed peas, eh? I had never heard that one! I think my mom will have a fit though if I call her right now and ask her to add something to the menu for tonight lol

    Happy New year!

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  19. Although I have lived in the south my whole adult life, I have never been a fan of balck-eyed peas!
    My Mom's tradition on New Years is sauerkraut! And you put a dime in it. The person who gets the dime in their helping is supposed to have great luck all year! Except the time I got the dime, and forgot to take it off my plate. In the garbage disposal in went! My parents had to get a new one!!!! So much for good luck :(
    Happy New Year to you and all the wonderful, beautiful dogs you make a home for. They are blessed because of you!
    xo, misha

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  20. Kim,
    Thanks for the info on the tradition of black eyed peas on New Years Day.
    I just love everyone different traditions and beliefs that have been passed down from generation to generation.
    I would like to tell you how very much I have enjoyed reading your blog in 2010 and I can't wait for your new posts to start again in 2011.
    Wishing you and hubby along with all your fur friends the Happiest New Year and all the best in 2011.

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  21. Ummm, I'll stick to pork and sauerkraut as an Ohioan traidtion rather than adopt my 'adopted' state of NC and eat those things...UGH, can't say they are my cup of tea!
    But hey, have at them and here's to a fantastic year!

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  22. And, how did you prepare your black-eyed peas? However you prepared them, I hope that they bring you the most wonderful of years.

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  23. I've never eaten black eyed peas. Wow, it seems like everyone else has. We used to have duck and sauerkraut on New Years Day. I love to hear about others traditions and 'good luck' food. Give the kids a New Year Hug for me and Gracie XXX

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  24. I need to develop a taste for them, but we did have some black eyed peas at the brother-in-law's today.

    Happy New Year to you all! :-)

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  25. I've never had a black eyed peas, but maybe we will start this tradition next year! We hope 2011 will be filled with blessings for you all.

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  26. Certainly not the place to visit this time of year! lol Beans and all!
    Legumes are so good for us though! Good tradition.
    Jim

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  27. I often use them in my chili -

    Since I will welcome all the luck I can snag, I'll have some along with the local custom 'here': pork and sauerkraut

    Happy 2011!

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  28. Interesting. Happy New Year!

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  29. Hi Kim
    We have black eyes peas occasionally with rice, and onions.
    But we did not have any today.
    I just a cheese sandwich- how does that sound?
    I can tell you Black Eyes peas are very tasty.... I am always interested in traditions,, it does not matter where they come from.
    I hope they were good and tasty for you
    love
    tweedles

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  30. Hope those black eyed peas bring you lots of happiness and good fortune in the coming year Kim.
    A very Happy New Year to all at Golden pines! :0)

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  31. Thanks - I've jsut learnt something new! Happy new year,
    Woofs,
    Riley

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  32. I didn't know that, Kim. No cool traditions like that here -- but maybe next year we'll fix a mess of black-eyed peas. Luck is something we can all use now and again.

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  33. What a wonderful story this is. My husband will enjoy it too. Maybe I will look for some of these at the store on my next shopping day. I love baking beans and perhaps I will hve luck with these peas. Thank you for sharing this.

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  34. I made my cowboy caviar that has black eyed peas in it for the holidays! Had no idea about the tradition, but the coincidence is a message of good luck....we can always use lots of that.

    recipe on my blog at:

    http://kt-goldens.blogspot.com/2010/11/cowboy-caviar.html

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