I have been talking to friends from around the country about what they eat for supper on New Years Day.

I thought, especially in the south, that most everyone practiced this tradition. The tradition of pork, black eyed peas, and greens for their supper. I do understand that it is a huge staple in the south, much more so than up north, but a lot of the people I have talked to are southerners.


The tradition states the following: Black-eyed peas and collards are the base of the New Year's Day meal. Pork also plays a part. Traditionally, black-eyed peas and collards are cooked with pork or fat-back, so, that would take care of the pork, although you could also put some sausage or a nice slice of ham on the plate to make a full meal. All of the components symbolize good luck/prosperity/wealth.


The collards are green (and our dollar is still green, and the rest of the money is still mostly green) - wealth


The pork is symbolic of progress and prosperity because the pig is the only animal that eats while it is moving forward.


Black eyed peas symbolize good luck.
There are several stories around as to why. The one I have heard most is that when Savannah was burned to the ground, the people suffered great deprivation, and then, luckily, a huge barrel of black-eyed peas was discovered and the black-eyed peas kept the population from starving until more food could be had.

We have always practiced this tradition. Do you? If not does your family have a special meal for New Years?

Yes, and I hate it. But my mom always forced me to eat just ONE bite lol.

We live in Texas and I've never heard of this... we're having baked chicken. Lol.

Quoting Vivian [♥]:" Yes, and I hate it. But my mom always forced me to eat just ONE bite lol."

My mom always made me too. I don't like black eyed peas but I always eat at least a spoonful! haha

Nope, never heard of it, but I am way up north.

We usually have prime rib with aujus or lobster tail, possibly crab legs, shrimp cocktail, asparagus, green bean casserole, and other stuff.

We always do hot dogs, sauerkraut, and kielbasa in the slow cooker for New Years.

Never heard of it, but I live in Ohio. We always have pork and sauerkraut.

yep. ham, collards, and black eyed peas...and whatever else my mother decided to make. but always those things.

We do seafood night. But I have heard of this tradition.

lobster tails
shrimp
King crab legs
salad

Quoting Bubba Monster's Mommy:" We live in Texas and I've never heard of this... we're having baked chicken. Lol."

I didn't know anything about it until we moved to Tennessee as a teen! They all did it there.
The only way I could eat the bean is if I put ketchup on them. Hahha so gross...

I guess since I grew up with the tradition I assumed everyone did this? lol Here you have to get to the store early because they will be out of collards and ham!

my family always does black eyed peas, cabbage(smothers and uncooked because one of my brothers doesnt eat it cooked) and a roast or something like that. and i have always ben forced to eat at least one bite of the beans. i hate black eyes.