# Eating black-eyed peas for New Year's? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 1, 2010, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252 "2010-01-01T02:56:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2010, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/41 "2010-01-02T07:51:46Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > :: shrugs :: > > Born and raised in Ohio with no Southern relatives. Just never came up. I hope you didn’t take that as a snark. I just never knew it was a regional thing is all I meant. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![I\_Like\_Pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@I\_Like\_Pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Like_Pie)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/42 "2012-12-30T00:30:33Z")
In my family it’s tradition (and considered good luck) to have ham, greens and black eyed peas on New Years day. My family is from Appalachia, but I’m wondering if there are any other areas that do this. I thought to ask because of this [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=677116) which seems to be the same menu I’m referring to. ---
**Author:** ![zombywoof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/9e8a1a/32.png) [@zombywoof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zombywoof)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/43 "2012-12-30T00:50:47Z")
Black eyed peas and greens (for luck/prosperity) on New Year’s Day is done here in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![happycamper\_5](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/cab0a1/32.png) [@happycamper\_5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/happycamper_5)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/44 "2012-12-30T00:53:46Z")
I think you just solved a long time mystery for me. Both of my maternal grandparents believed this and, while they weren’t from Appalachia, their families were. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/45 "2012-12-30T00:54:58Z")
North Florida, too, although just black eyed peas, rice, and greens, no ham. Commonly called Hoppin John. ---
**Author:** ![billfish678](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@billfish678](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billfish678)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/46 "2012-12-30T01:23:32Z")
We do/did the black eyed pea thing. The big deal was to throw a penny? in there and the person who found it had good luck for the year. One year nobody “found” it. Let’s just say one of our famous presidents took an interesting gastrointestinal journey. ---
**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/47 "2012-12-30T03:02:30Z")
My family does black-eyed peas and cabbage for money. We’re in Texas. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/48 "2012-12-30T03:16:04Z")
I’ve always heard the black-eyed peas and collard greens were a Southern US thing - both supposedly bring the eater prosperity in the coming year. I stole the tradition several years ago, under the aegis of the prosperity thing, 'cause it’s the only way I got my family to endure one of my favorite meals. Adding a ham to the menu is a concession to my husband, who can’t abide a meatless meal. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/49 "2012-12-30T05:13:13Z")
Previous threads that may be of interest: > **[Eating black-eyed peas for New Year's?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=546005)** > > I never heard about this until tonight. My wife’s mom served it to her family from time to time during her childhood at the turn of the year, and although this was in Vermont, a little Googling leads me to believe this is a Southern tradition. Any... > **[Who else is having black-eyed peas on New Year's Day?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=636833)** > > Does eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day bring good fortune in the coming year? WHO CARES? They’re just good eatin’! But since I only make them once or twice a year, I may as well make them on January the 1st. Tomorrow I’ll make ham hocks... > **[How to cook fresh black-eyed peas with salt pork?](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=591206)** > > I love love love black eyed peas, but have never cooked them “from scratch”. Please, in small words like you’re talking to a child, could someone explain how to make tasty New Year’s black eyed peas? I have fresh black eyed peas, so I’m assuming I... ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/50 "2012-12-30T09:22:30Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > I’ve always heard the black-eyed peas and collard greens were a Southern US thing - both supposedly bring the eater prosperity in the coming year. I stole the tradition several years ago, under the aegis of the prosperity thing, 'cause it’s the only way I got my family to endure one of my favorite meals. Adding a ham to the menu is a concession to my husband, who can’t abide a meatless meal. 🙂 I’ve always heard that eating blackeyed peas on New Year’s Day will bring the eater luck. My mother was quite superstitious about this, and always insisted that all of us eat at least some blackeyed peas on New Year’s. Since I like most beans, I’m quite willing to eat them on any day. My husband DOESN’T like blackeyed peas, but he’s also very superstitious about them, so he always wants me to make at least some beans and he’ll eat a couple of spoonfuls. And make a horrid face. If our daughter is around, he’ll insist that she eat a couple of spoonfuls, too. She’ll do it because she loves her daddy, but she rolls her eyes, because she thinks that blackeyed peas taste like mud. My mother was born in Missouri, and grew up in Missouri and Texas. My husband has been a Texas boy all his life. My father was a damyankee, but he was willing to eat the peas if it meant quiet in the household. I don’t think that they were his favorite bean, but he tolerated them. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 9:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/51 "2012-12-30T09:30:18Z")
Oh yes…and of course corn bread or corn muffins are wonderful with blackeyed peas. **Chef Troy** told me about using chicken broth instead of just plain water to cook beans in. My mother had always used just plain water, partly because her chicken broth resources were either make it herself and freeze it, or use cubes or canned broth, both of which had a lot of sodium in it. But today, we’ve got better broths available. I might use some of the turkey broth from Xmas dinner. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/52 "2012-12-30T10:13:57Z")
Yum, I’m in! But chances are, we’ll be having New Orleans-style red beans and rice, cuz I just got back from there & brought back the very special “Camellia” brand red kidneys. Also found some andouille sausage at our local market to add into the mix. If you REALLY like beans, check out [http://ranchogordo.com/](http://ranchogordo.com/) mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm great stuff & great shipping! My Christmas order came right on time and a totally cool real Mexican calendar was included in the box. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Mama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5ac83/32.png) [@Atomic\_Mama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Mama)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/53 "2012-12-30T10:18:08Z")
> [@AHunter3](#): > > With fresh onion, flavored with pork (like what vegetable _isn’t?_)… but while black-eyed peas are nice, if you’re sufficiently lucky you get to feast on > > purple hull peas, crowder peas, spring peas, big boy peas, butterpeas, pink-eyed peas, cream peas, acre peas, and a dozen or so OTHER varieties of which blackeyes are just the best-known example > > …but yeah blackeyes are traditional for New Years. I know YOU KNOW what’cha talkin’ about. I miss all them beans that I used to eat in Mississippi. Now I live in Maine and the only kind we have are … navy and soldier. And some yellow-eye sometimes. But mixed up with molasses. Not suthrun at all ☹ ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/54 "2012-12-30T14:04:32Z")
In the New Orleans area – at least among my family and the people we know – cabbage is the tradition in place of greens. My mom makes cole slaw for New Year’s Day. My wife makes smothered cabbage. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/55 "2012-12-30T14:21:32Z")
> [@Atomic\_Mama](#): > > Yum, I’m in! But chances are, we’ll be having New Orleans-style red beans and rice, cuz I just got back from there & brought back the very special “Camellia” brand red kidneys. Also found some andouille sausage at our local market to add into the mix. Camellia produces black-eyed peas, too. Around here (N.O.), they are the default dry-bean brand. Camellia beans are hard to find elsewhere? … The local superstition for the meaning of each food is as follows: Black-eyed peas: Luck Pork: Health Cabbage: Money ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/56 "2012-12-30T14:42:51Z")
I don’t think this needs multiple threads; since there were two fairly active threads, I merged them. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/57 "2012-12-30T16:09:58Z")
I never knew this was a new year thing until this thread. They’re nasty & I’m glad I never had them forced upon me. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/58 "2012-12-30T16:13:52Z")
Alway! For good luck tradition says. ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/59 "2012-12-30T18:38:02Z")
I’ve never done this, but I have eaten at a restaurant called The Black-Eyed Pea on New Year’s Eve. ---
**Author:** ![gms453](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@gms453](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gms453)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2012, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252/60 "2012-12-31T01:56:09Z")
Pork and sauerkraut over mashed potatoes with applesauce on the side is traditional fare on New Year’s Day amongst the Pennsylvania Dutch. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eating-black-eyed-peas-for-new-years/523252.md?page=2)