what is the significance of black eyed peas and cabbage for new years
by Maybelle Miller PhD
Published 2 years ago
Updated 2 years ago
Greens – (collards, mustard or turnip greens, cabbage, etc.) symbolize the green of “dollar bills,” and will ensure you have a financially prosperous New Year. Black-eyed peas symbolize “coins,” and point to monetary gain.
Why do people eat Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's day?
In the American South, serving a pot of black-eyed peas is a traditional way to encourage luck in the new year. The ingredient may be humble, but the history and legends surrounding the legume have made it a symbol of prosperity to Black Americans in the South.
Why are Black Eyed Peas a symbol of prosperity in the south?
The ingredient may be humble, but the history and legends surrounding the legume have made it a symbol of prosperity to Black Americans in the South. Like many staples of Southern cuisine, black-eyed peas were brought to North America by enslaved Africans through the Atlantic slave trade.
Are Black-Eyed Peas the key to good luck?
The jury is still out on if black-eyed peas really are the key to good luck for the year, but that is perhaps irrelevant. It could be said that it is more important to carry on the traditions of those who have come before, and in a small way, while we eat, we are continuing a ritual which binds us to our loved ones.
What happened to Black-Eyed Peas after the Civil War?
After the Civil War, eating black-eyed peas became more common throughout the South and was not limited to being food for the enslaved people or the poor. The Union Army raided the Confederate Army’s food supplies during the Civil War and took everything that they considered edible, with the exception of black-eyed peas.
Why do we eat cabbage and black-eyed peas on new year's day?
Black-eyed Peas & Cabbage Others say it started during the Civil War in Vicksburg, Virginia. The town ran out of food while under siege and the inhabitants were lucky enough to discover cow peas (a.k.a., black-eyed peas). Meanwhile, cabbage leaves are thought to bring prosperity to those who eat them on New Year's Day.
What does black-eyed peas symbolize?
According to legendary Southern food researcher John Egerton's Southern Food: At Home, On the Road, In History, black-eyed peas are associated with a "mystical and mythical power to bring good luck." As for collard greens, they're green like money and will ensure you a financially prosperous new year.
What should you not eat on new year's day?
What NOT To Eat On New Year's DayPoultry & Winged Fowl. You should avoid eating anything with wings on New Year's Day because it is believed your good luck will “fly away” with your meal. ... Lobster, Shrimp & Crab. ... Bottom-Feeding Fish. ... White-Colored Foods. ... Short Noodles. ... Keep Leftovers. ... Don't Pass the Knife.
29 hours ago
Click to see full answer. Beside this, what does cabbage and Black Eyed Peas mean for New Years? Some say the idea of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's started at the time of the Civil War.Peas were considered animal food and not fit for Union soldiers. Most people will tell you they eat cabbage or collard greens to ensure prosperity. The green leaves represent money.
24 hours ago
In the southern United States, a traditional New Year’s Day meal includes black-eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread. It’s said these foods bring good luck and prosperity for the year ahead . The peas represent coins, the greens represent paper money, and the cornbread represents gold.
14 hours ago
· The most obvious reason for the southern tradition is the black eyed peas are for luck and the cabbage is for wealth, but there is more …
19 hours ago
· One theory is that the enslaved ate black-eyed peas when the Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863. Another theory is based on the Southern phrase, “eat poor on New Year’s and eat fat the rest of the year”—grounded in the historically held belief that black-eyed peas were for poor people.
13 hours ago
According to legendary Southern food researcher John Egerton's Southern Food: At Home, On the Road, In History, black-eyed peas are associated with a "mystical and mythical power to bring good luck." As for collard greens, they're green like money and will ensure you a financially prosperous new year. And isn't that all what we want anyway?
6 hours ago
· Good question! The meaning of corned beef and cabbage and black eyed peas on new years is associated with the fortune you should hope for in the coming year.