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 ?
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.
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.
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)
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