In the South, black-eyed peas have long been considered a symbol of luck and prosperity. According to Southern folklore, they are the first food to be eaten on New Year’s Day to bring luck and prosperity throughout the year ahead. If you are planning to celebrate the New Year in the Southeast, it is most likely that you will be offered black-eyed peas in some form, either just after midnight or on New Year’s Day.
Most Southerners will tell you that this tradition dates back to the Civil War. Black-eyed peas were considered animal food and as such were not worthy of General Sherman’s Union troops. When Union soldiers raided the Confederates’ food supplies, legend says they took everything except the peas and salted pork. The Confederates considered themselves lucky to be left with those meager supplies, and survived the winter. Peas became symbolic of luck.
Black-eyed peas were also given to slaves. One explanation of the superstition says that black-eyed peas were all the southern slaves had to celebrate with on the first day of January, 1863. What were they celebrating? That was the day when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect. From then on, peas were always eaten on the first day of January.
The New Year’s Day Meal
Here in the South, the traditional meal is black-eyed peas, pork, greens (or cabbage) and cornbread. Besides bringing luck, the peas represent coins while the greens and cabbage symbolize paper money. The southern tradition: each bite of greens you eat is worth $1,000 in the upcoming year.
The pork in this meal represents health, wealth and progress. It was considered symbolic of health and wealth because families could eat for the entire winter on the fatty meat one pig produced. Pigs have also symbolized progress. A pig can’t turn his head to look back without turning completely around, so it’s believed that pigs are always looking to the future.
One source of pork that has traditionally been used as part of the meal are hog jowls. A hog jowl is the “cheek” of the hog. It tastes and cooks similar to thick cut bacon. It’s a tough cut that is typically smoked and cured. Hog jowl is used to season beans and peas, or fried and eaten like bacon. Hog jowls are a very fatty cut of meat. Some people believe the “fatter” the pig, the “fatter” your wallet, making the hog jowl perfect for your pork selection.
Corn bread represents pocket money or spending money. The tradition stems from the color of the bread. It’s color represented “gold” or “coin” money. Plus, it goes well with peas, greens and pork.
It’s been said that if you eat only black-eyed peas, and skip the pork, greens and the accompaniments, the luck won’t stick. They all work together or not at all.
So remember:
New Year’s Black-eyed Peas for Luck
New Year’s Greens for Wealth
New Year’s Pork for Health and Progress
New Year’s Cornbread for Spending Money
