New Year’s Black Eye Peas

Do you know why we eat black eye peas on New Year’s Day? The tradition of eating black eye peas on New Year's day dates back to Rosh Hashanah (The Jewish New Year) according to Wikipedia, the tradition began when the Jewish celebrated the New Year, recorded in Babylonian in circa 500CE. It was thought that the black eye peas were a symbol of good luck and thus, became the habit of eating them in the New Year. Now it is a tradition, not with only the Jewish, but with many cultures across the world. For Americans, it particularly became popular after the civil war, when during the civil war the union soldiers raided the confederate food supply. As the story goes, during the raid the union soldiers took everything and left behind salted pork and the dried black eye peas. Considering themselves to be lucky, the confederates having been left enough food to survive the harsh winter, the black eye peas became a symbol of luck. Another American explanation includes the fact that on January 1st of 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, and the slaves celebrated with the only food they had which was black eye peas. Eating the peas was a sign of hope and prosperity for things to come. And thus as Americans we began the tradition of including them in our menu on New Year’s Day. In the south the meal often includes, collard greens, turnips, or mustard greens. The greens symbolize prosperity/money and the pork represents a positive motion because of the fact that pigs root forward (something new I learned) and cornbread usually accompanies the meal. I make black eye peas every New Year's as a symbol of good luck. Here is an easy and simple way to make a great recipe for New Year's Black Eye Peas. Happy New Year to you and your's - I wish you much love, peace, great health and prosperity in the New Year. Bon Appetit, Cecelia