Why do we eat Black eyed pea's and Cabbage on New years?

Its tradition for my family to eat black-eyed pea's and cabbage on New Years, they always said it represents wealth and health for the new year. Where did this tradition come from?
Why do we eat Black eyed pea's and Cabbage on New years?
The Black-eyed peas respresent HOPE for a better tomorrow because a depressed and deprived people could only receive what came from the fields and to get these peas meant finally having a taste of something good - even if it is small. The peas mean good luck/good fortune for the coming year.

The cabbage represents greater prosperity, financial increase. More green (Cabbage) for the coming year.

Basically, it came forth from the days of slavery and has become a tradition that uplifts, inspires and reminds us to look forward instead of looking back. The past is gone so we must leave it behind and keep our eyes and our hearts on the blessings that tomorrow may bring. HOPE must always remain in the forecast! Happy New Year.



This has been a tradition in my family also. It seems to be especially important to those of us who came from the Southern states.

Take care and God Bless!
Reply:the fiber sweeps the colon



the gas blasts it out for a fresh start
Reply:Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.
Reply:I never knew anyone to eat that, but I new a girl who ate grapes on new years eve.
Reply:This comes from the Southern part of the United States. Eating black-eyed peas was to bring luck to the person for the new year.

Eating greens, such as cabbage, kale, and spinach, also came from the south., and it denoted money.

Cornbread eaten in the south meant wealth for the family.



Some of these traditions followed the people as they moved from the South to the North, or to other places.



My folks always had pork, sauerkraut and mashed potatoes, which came from their birth land of Germany. We always ate the traditional ways of my German ancestors, and when I moved to The Netherlands, I saw the influence from the German region reflected also in the Netherlands. I felt right at home!
Reply:i don't know!!!



but......

it is a sign for good luck!!!
Reply:I've always been told that it's from the southern slaves during the Civil War. Union troops, would strip the countryside of all crops and destroy whatever they couldn't carry away. At that time, Northerners considered "field peas" only for animal feed, and as a result didn't steal or destroy the black eyed peas. Many Southerners survived because of this and considered it a good luck mistake. So now we eat them on New Years day for luck for that year. Some people even put a dime in the pot and whoever gets the dime will have wealth that year....I've never gone THAT far though lol
Reply:Because if you start the year out with the nastiest meal you can think of, everything else you eat for the rest of the year will taste a little bit better in comparison.
Reply:So everyone can poot their own natural noisemaker to ring in the new year.
Reply:ugh, my family does that too, bout to go over there now.... ick. hopefully there'll be cheesecake at least. lol.

i think it's a southern tradition, but i'm not sure.
Reply:i don't know?....... we eat tamales
Reply:I believe it came from some stupid hillbilly tradition....I could be wrong tho....just my opinion....
Reply:TRADITIONAL????

WHERE?



Well,....must a' been just your family and a few others.

....nobody here has ever heard about it.

Why would anything "that" plain, and meatless,.... that is eaten primarily by the poor or lower working class, ever represent WEALTH ?

Healthy from germs and viruses perhaps, because nobody would get near ya' ....from all the smelly FARTS.
scooter