Why Southerners Eat Black Eyed Peas and Greens On New Year's Day

A story that you might hear a lot as New Years is approaching. A story that should be retold and reminded to us every year 

Why do Southerns eat Black Eye Peas on New Years Day?
What Is In Your Kitchen ?

The story of the Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas as the first meal on New Year's Day is generally believed to date back the winter of 1864 - 1865 during the later part of the of Southern Independence. 

When Union General William T. Sherman led his invading troops on their destructive march through Georgia, the fields of black-eyed peas were largely left untouched because they were deemed fit only for animals. 

The Union foragers took everything, plunder the land, and left what they could not take burning or in shambles.
But one thing did remain the lonely peas and good Ol Southern salted pork. 

As a result, the humble yet nourishing black-eyed pea saved surviving Southerners - mainly women, children and the disabled veterans of the Confederate army - from mass starvation and were thereafter regarded as a symbol of good luck. 

The peas are said to represent good fortune. Certainly the starving Southern families and soldier were fortunate to have those meager supplies. 

According to the tradition and folklore, the peas are served with several other dishes that symbolically represent good fortune, wealth and prosperity in the coming year. Some folks still traditionally cook the black-eyed peas with a silver dime in the pot as a symbol of good fortune. 

Greens represent wealth and paper money. Any greens will do, but in the South the most popular are collards, mustard greens, turnip greens, and boiled cabbage. 

Cornbread - a regular staple mean among Southerners in absence of wheat - symbolizes gold and is very good for soaking up the juice from the greens on the plate.
You should always have some on hand in your kitchen anyway.  

Pork symbolizes bountiful prosperity and the progressing into the year ahead. Ham and hog jowls are typical with the New Year meal, though sometimes bacon will work too. 

Stewed tomatoes are often eaten with this meal as well. They represent health and wealth. 

So reflect on those stories when you sit down at your family table and enjoy this humble uniquely Southern meal every New Years Day. Be thankful of what this year did give you and better days that are coming ahead of you 

It was what your Southern Kinfolk DID and reflected upon every year. 

(Contributed by Larry Spears, SCV Camp 1524)

Merry Christmas from the Prattville Dragoons, Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524

Vida Alabama Christmas Parade

A number of Prattville Dragoons and friends participated in the annual Vida Christmas Parade on Saturday December 15th.  The morning started with a misting rain but it stopped for the parade fortunately and there were hundreds of spectators lining County Road 19 to watch the parade.  Thee Dragoons entered three vehicles including the purple Dodge Charger of Commander Waldo which had a couple Confederate Battle flags flying off the back windows, the Honda S2000 of Compatriot Don Drasheff and, the Ford F150 driven by Wyatt Willis which allowed Quartermaster Myrick to sit in the bed on a folding chair and toss candy along the parade route.  Compatriots Bill Gill and Tyrone Crowley also participated in the parade, riding along.  The Dragoons handed out hundreds of mini Confederate Battle flags as well as SCV coins and of course candy.  After the parade, the folks of Vida host all the parade participants and spectators in the community center there with a BBQ lunch including homemade desserts.  This is a very special country Christmas parade event.

"The Christmas Social at Buena Vista", a Poem by Bill Anthony

THE CHRISTMAS SOCIAL AT BUENA VISTA

“Tis again, that magical time of year

When we all come, a way out here

To Buena Vista, the remnants flock

To turn back the hands, on history’s clock.

We’ll conjure up, the South’s golden past

When she was free, and her farms were vast;

When houses like this one, dotted our land

The centers of life, on plantations grand.

So here we gather by invitation

To remember our roots in our Southern nation,

And to mark the day our Lord first cried

 And why He lived, and why He died.

The Dragoons are our gracious hosts,

So let’s propose some Christmas toasts!

First raise your cups to General Lee

Who gave us this great recipe!

This egg nog comes but once a year,

Our Dragoon hosts provide this cheer;

So let us also toast our hosts

To each of them who’s manned a post.

A camp that works hard every year

To make us happy while we’re here.

We’ll have some tunes of way back when;

Our rebel ghosts will live again.

Within these rooms now filled with mirth

We’ll hear some songs of Jesus’ birth,

And maybe Santa will appear

With goodies and more Christmas Cheer.

And when your tummies are all aglow

And you’ve enjoyed their Christmas show,

You shan't forget this historic site

And you’ll keep your memories of this night,

When a Christmas social in these hallowed rooms

Comes once a year from your Prattville Dragoons.

                                                           From William’s Pen

                                                           December 2018

Prattville Dragoons Annual Christmas Social

The Dragoons enjoyed hosting a record number of participants at the camp's annual Christmas social Friday evening 14 December 2018 and had a wonderful time socializing, partaking of an excellent catered Christmas meal and basking in the history and ambiance of the beautiful Buena Vista Mansion. It appears that all 67 persons who preregistered for the social were able to attend which resulted in a slightly overflow crowd but seating capacity was increased using the foyer.  Everyone was comfortable with the table arrangement and delighted in the festivities of the evening.  Bill and Peggy Myrick provided beautiful centerpieces which were set atop the linen tablecloths which made the parlor look beautiful. 

The party had outstanding piano music from the pianist who played period music and Christmas classics throughout the evening. She also entertained us with solo renditions of "O Holy Night" and of course, "DIXIE"!   Camp 1524 is blessed with our Chaplain, Tom Snowden who presented special music leading everyone in singing Christmas carols and performing a beautiful presentation of “Mary Did You Know?”   Additionally, new member John Dennis was sworn in, Darlene Leistner provided a history of Buena Vista Mansion where the original Dragoons had a reunion in 1901, 1st Lt. Harold Grooms read a hilarious version of "The Cajun Night Before Christmas" and, everyone enjoyed a delicious catered meal by Smokin S Restaurant.  Buena Vista was decorated with greenery and Christmas decorations including a live Christmas Tree and many folks took the opportunity for a self guided tour of the mansion.  Compatriot Bill Anthony from Tallassee was unable to attend because of health issues but Pat Godwin graciously read a very special poem written by Bill to commemorate the evening.  Prayers and heartfelt thanks go out to Brother Bill at this time struggling with health problems and all Confederate compatriots thank him for all the tremendous contributions he has made and continues to make to Southern Heritage.   A number of members contributed doorprizes which culminated the festivities with drawing and distribution handled by Mrs. Kerri Waldo and Brent Jenks.

Pictured below are those in period dress, John and Nancy Land from the Montgomery Semple Camp with his sister who came all the way from Denmark; Commander Stuart Waldo who emceed the event; Pat Godwin reading Bill’s poem and Todd Kiskaden in Confederate uniform standing in front of Buena Vista where we had draped a beautiful Battle Flag provided by Past Commander Wyatt Willis. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Ring the Bell for the Salvation Army Christmas Kettle

Members of Sons of Confederate Veterans Camp 1524 had a wonderful time ringing in the holiday season on Saturday December 8th.  For the third year, the Dragoons  rang the bell for the Salvation Army and the event was a great success with at least fifteen compatriots participating.  The weather was dreary and cold with rain and highs only in the mid-40s but the men covered the hours of 9:00AM - 9:00PM at the Prattville Winn Dixie, standing in front of the store but then moving inside when the wind picked up to make the conditions even harsher outside. Grocery store customers and employees were very cooperative and friendly as the bell ringers greeted everyone with a "Merry Christmas”.  Many customers donated so collections were brisk and should be tallied by the Salvation Army later in the week. 

Some of the Dragoon participants are pictured below.  Participants included Bill Branch, Will Dismukes, Tyrone Crowley, Karl Wade (who was also the organizer of the event), Wayne Sutherland, Harold Grooms, Douglas Beir Butler, Bill Gill, Stuart Waldo, Don Owens, Bill Myrick, Dale Boyles, Don Drasheff, Louis Turner and Larry Spears. 

This is a great community service project,  another great opportunity for the Dragoons to support our local friends and neighbors and a worthy cause. 

Prattville Dragoons SCV Camp 1524 Chaplain's Column for December 2018

Chaplain’s Column – Gift from the Father

John 3:16

     Think about all the presents you’ve received in your life. Some may have seemed heavenly, but Jesus Christ is the only gift any of us will ever receive that came straight from heaven. Without a maker, without a beginning or end, He is unlike any other gift in human experience. And although He arrived as a tiny infant, He is precisely what all mankind desperately needs.

      When you placed your faith in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you could not have been given a gift that was more practical or necessary. Sin had so wrecked humanity that we were all under the wrath of God and in desperate need of forgiveness and deliverance from our guilt, shame, and fleshly behaviors. We had emotional needs, material needs, and all manner of brokenness.

      So God the Father sent His only begotten Son into our lives. He knew that no other gift could ever provide for our needs or fulfill our longings as completely as Christ Jesus.

      He came in human flesh. That’s what the incarnation is all about. God came into this world with a body like ours so that we could see Him, touch Him, and understand Him. And yet the tragedy is that most people never “unwrap” this gift. They keep Him a baby in the manger scene or categorize Him as just a teacher or preacher. But this will never do. If you do not unwrap the gift, you will never know what is inside. To open the present, open the Bible. The more you get to know Jesus, the better you will understand how perfect the gift is for you.

Please remember all those that are on our prayer list