What are your favorite New Year’s traditions? Football? Fireworks? For luck and prosperity in the coming year, Southerners include black-eyed peas, too!

A Tradition Is Born

There are a few theories as to why this simple food brings good fortune, but all date to the Civil War era. One states that in their native West Africa, black-eyed peas were typically eaten on special occasions, as they were considered a charm to ward off the Evil Eye. Enslaved West Africans brought their food traditions to the American South, and perhaps enslaved cooks in plantation kitchens served this dish on New Year’s Day for good luck.

Another version states that black-eyed peas were the only food Southern slaves possessed on January 1, 1863, the day of the Emancipation Proclamation. From that date, black-eyed peas were always eaten on the first of the year.

According to another story, when General Sherman invaded the South, he considered black-eyed peas food for livestock or slaves and not worthy of his troops. Therefore, when Union soldiers raided the Confederates’ food supplies, they took everything except black-eyed peas and salted pork. Southerners considered themselves lucky to have even this, which allowed them to survive the winter, and these legumes became a symbol of good luck and prosperity.

However, this tradition’s origin story may be much more simple. Historically, black-eyed peas were cheap and easy to store, making them accessible to all in the winter months. Because they are inexpensive and unpretentious, when eaten at the new year it is believed one has a greater chance of increased wealth in the coming months.

Sides and Symbols

Legumes are not the only traditional foods Southerners consume on New Year’s Day. A typical January 1^st menu should consist of these other Southern staples, each with their own symbolism:

• Cornbread, which symbolizes gold.
• Pork, a sign of prosperity and progress.
• Stewed tomatoes along with black-eyed peas to represent wealth and health.
• Greens – collards, mustard greens, or turnip greens. They represent paper money while black-eyed peas represent coins and symbolize prosperity in the new year. (It is not clear why these beans are associated with money, but one theory is that they get bigger when cooked, which could represent increased wealth.)
• A shiny penny or dime added to the pot just before serving. The person whose bowl contains the coin receives the best luck for the New Year. Do not swallow it, though, as that would be an unlucky (and possibly dangerous) way to start the year!

Remember that black-eyed peas are the essential ingredient to this meal – enjoying any of these dishes without these beans will not result in New Year’s fortune. Tradition dictates you should eat these legumes just after midnight on New Year’s Eve, but if you wait until the next day, make sure they are the first thing you consume. Some Southerners will tell you to eat exactly 365 of these beans on New Year’s Day. If you eat less, you will only be lucky for that many days, but if you eat more, each extra bean brings one day of bad luck.

Make A Meal Of It

Wondering how exactly to cook your black-eyed peas this year? Try these recipes to ensure the whole family enjoys the New Year’s meal:

Hoppin’ John

One of the most traditional New Year’s recipes, Hoppin’ John combines black-eyed peas with rice, pork (such as chopped pork or ham, hog jowls or hambones, fatback or bacon), and seasonings. You may also add chopped onions and hot sauce.

Texas (Black-Eyed Pea) Caviar

This dish, a blend of Southern and Mexican cuisine, pairs black-eyed peas with red onion, garlic, tomatoes, bell pepper, jalapeño, and red wine vinegar to create a zingy dip for tortilla chips.

Black-Eyed Pea Salad

While there are many recipes for salads made with black-eyed peas, one of the most popular contains cider vinegar and basil dressing.

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Whatever you choose to eat this holiday, know that black-eyed peas are essential to receiving the luck and prosperity you crave, so make sure they star in your next New Year’s Day meal. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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