This Is Why We Eat Greens And Black-Eyed Peas On New Years Day
It has been a tradition where I grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina for as long as I can remember. This is why we eat greens, black-eyed peas and cornbread on New Years Day. Sure, it is a great meal, but it also has some origins you may not have known about till now.
The south is known for creating delicious culinary delicacies that are enjoyed all over the world but the tradition of eating this certain food combination on New Year’s Day was definitely born in the south. I have heard bits and pieces over the years. Take the black-eyed peas for instance. Sure it’s the name of a pretty decent pop band, it is also the pea of choice on the first day of every year because it symbolizes coins. Some people actually eat 365 peas on January 1.
Greens do stand for all the money and prosperity you hope to achieve in the New Year, but there is another reason why greens are the leafy vegetable of choice. According to research from Channel 9, certain crops were chosen to be wiped out by Union soldiers after the civil war. Seems the northern soldiers weren’t too crazy about collard greens and left them be. The tradition of collards and black-eyed peas started post-civil war for this reason.
Cornbread is chosen, reportedly, because the color and shape achieved after baking is that of a gold bar. Hog products are consumed on New Year to represent good health. A hog could sustain a southern family post-civil war for many months. And a hog can only look forward, never back. To learn more about the traditional holiday feast get all the details from Channel 9.
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