I am not superstitious
@GardenGerty (169479)
United States
January 1, 2026 5:11pm CST
My family always ate black eyed peas on New Year's Day for "luck". Just a tradition. In reading about this southern habit, I learned that they are considered lucky because this is what the defeated southern plantation owners survived on after the Civil War. Invading Union armies ravaged the land and burnt or destroyed all food crops as the came through. They did not bother with the black eyed peas because they were considered to only be good as food for livestock. Rather than starve the surviving southerners ate the black eyed peas.
The actual foods you are to eat are black eyed peas, which represent coins, corn bread which is for gold, greens which represents paper money and pork because when a pig forages it moves forward.
For lunch I served sliced ham, corn bread, black eyed peas, and sauteed cabbage which was the only green I had on hand.
It is a good winter meal, lots of flavor and nutrition. Leftover cabbage and blackeyed peas will go into a soup later this month. Cornbread is being put away in individual servings to go with soup. Sliced ham will be good for many meals. We are all set.
I have chili and ham and beans and other good things all put away in the freezer for easy meals.
19 people like this
18 responses
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
1 Jan
A lot of people do not like them, but I seem to like almost all beans.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
2 Jan
@rebelann Yes, and butterbeans too. I like hummus but do not particularly like whole garbanzos (chick peas). Bob does not like hummus, but does like butterbeans made up like hummus for a dip.
3 people like this
@snowy22315 (208963)
• United States
2 Jan
That is interesting. I never knew those facts. There used to be a store around here that sold ham hocks and black eyed peas as well as collards for New Years.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
Sounds very southern. They must have had a market for them at that time.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
That sounds like the same reasoning around many food traditions. I would enjoy eating that as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
@LadyDuck Just a little bit, but at least it is still here.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
3 Jan
@GardenGerty I had lost this comment and re-typed. The site is buggy.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502491)
• Italy
3 Jan
@GardenGerty - I see more or less the same traditions all over the world.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
I have been home on break so I can think about meals a little. I seem to cook for an army when we are only two of us so I do freeze a lot of leftovers.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382127)
• Rockingham, Australia
3 Jan
@GardenGerty I love having a few prepared meals in the freezer.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
3 Jan
The tradition in our household was to always have pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day. Cousin #2 wasn't feeling well; so we will have our "lucky" dinner on Monday.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
I know that there are definitely different traditions in different parts of the country. Pork and sauerkraut sound like it is German influence, which would fit. Parts of my dad's family are from Ohio.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (222417)
• United States
4 Jan
@GardenGerty The cousin side of the family is from Germany. My in-laws always said they were German; and my FIL spoke German; but they actually had a Polish background if I remember correctly. Do you know what part of Ohio?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
2 Jan
We would have them as a side occasionally growing up. I like them, Bob does not. I could not tell you about my first husband or my kids.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
I hope to be. Even if we were to get bad weather we would eat well.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174500)
• United States
4 Jan
Mom always made black-eyed peas, brown beans, pork (usually ham hocks) and cornbread for New Year's Day. I wouldn't eat the black-eyed peas but I loved cornbread and bean soup. 
I put individual slices of cornbread in the freezer, too.
I put individual slices of cornbread in the freezer, too.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
4 Jan
My mom did not make cornbread. I am not sure she liked it. She did not like other kinds of beans, but New Years black eyed peas were a must. My grandma made the best cornbread, and biscuits. All from scratch, all from memory.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
4 Jan
@DaddyEvil Baked beans are not my favorite but they go well with burgers and hot dogs. My cornbread is never the same twice, and that is just okay by me.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174500)
• United States
4 Jan
@GardenGerty That's how mom cooked, too. All from scratch and all from memory. She's jot down notes for us to use when learning to cook.
I only eat green beans or baked beans now.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135791)
• Marion, Ohio
1 Jan
We had sausage this morning and sauerkraut with dinner
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
1 Jan
Sounds good to me. When I make the soup I will put some kind of sausage in it as it sounds good to me.
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
2 Jan
Latvians have such a tradition for luck but eating gray peas with bacon sauce,
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
Gray peas is something I have not heard of. I will have to look it up.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
4 Jan
@RasmaSandra I have never encountered grey peas, of course I have not been looking for them either. Maybe I will soon. I did find them to ship to the US and Canada from a place called The Baltic Shop. I also saw sugar snap grey peas but I knew those are not what you were talking about. The other ones, in the Baltic shop specifically mention Latvia.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (98033)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
3 Jan
@GardenGerty just for you
https://bookoffoods.com/grey-peas-with-bacon/
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (18115)
• Torrington, Connecticut
2 Jan
Im not superstitious but I do believe in Ghost
2 people like this
@RevivedWarrior (3853)
• India
2 Jan
That is such a wonderful and meaningful tradition! It is interesting to learn the history behind why black-eyed peas became a symbol of luck. Knowing that they helped people survive such a difficult time gives the custom much deeper meaning. I love how each food has its own symbolism tied to prosperity and moving forward. Coins, gold, paper money, and progress all wrapped into one meal feels very intentional. Your New Year’s lunch sounds both thoughtful and comforting. Ham, cornbread, black eyed peas, and sautéed cabbage make a hearty winter spread. It’s practical as well as symbolic, which makes it even better. Turning leftovers into soup later in the month is a smart and cozy plan. Best use of food according to me. Portioning the cornbread for future meals shows great foresight. Having sliced ham ready for multiple dishes is always a win. Your freezer sounds well stocked with comforting options. It’s a wonderful feeling to be set up with nourishing meals and traditions that carry meaning into the new year. Enjoy the time!
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169479)
• United States
3 Jan
I enjoy planning ahead and all of those foods have good nutrition as well. This is our cold season so soups and hearty meals are good to have.
2 people like this
@Nakitakona (59987)
• Philippines
2 Jan
We're not aware that these beans bring good luck for we used to eat these. They're cooked with port mest , best in pork's feet. We eat them anytime as long as they're available in the market.
1 person likes this
@valherma00 (3829)
• Zagreb, Croatia (Hrvatska)
2 Jan
it sounds like a good winter meal. i hope you'll have a lucky year
1 person likes this
