Wednesday, December 29, 2010

No Resolutions, Just Back-eyed Peas

I won't be making any resolutions on New Year's Day but I will be making black-eyed peas. I grew up in a family that was not in general superstitious, but which held firmly to the belief that it was necessary to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's day to assure luck and prosperity throughout the coming year. Sometimes they were part of a bigger meal and sometimes it was just black-eyed peas and corn bread, but there were alway black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. The only part of the black-eyed peas I liked was the foil wrapped coins that were thrown into the pot to assure prosperity. I became an expert at getting my serving from the bottom of the pot where there were the most coins to be found.

Having been forced to suffer through eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day every new year of my childhood, I felt it was only right to force my children to do the same. I did, and we still do, forgo the coins in the pot.....taking a child who has swallowed a quarter to the hospital doesn't seem like a very lucky way to start the year. My kids never much liked them, but have tolerated the custom so we will be having our final celebration of this holiday season on Saturday when we all get together to choke down some black-eyed peas. Lots of corn bread and maybe a ham and some macaroni and cheese will make it all good.

I figure with all the luck and prosperity I will get from eating the black-eyed peas, I don't really need to make any resolutions.

Does your family have any New Year's traditions?

15 comments:

  1. Are you sure you aren't a Texan? We have black-eyed peas on New Year's Day too but we don't put coins in. I've never heard that before, very interesting.

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  2. never heard of putting wrapped coins in them...but I love black eyed peas...

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  3. What if I don't make or eat the black-eyed peas but I listen to a few songs from the band? :)

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  4. In my childhood back in Florida, black eyed peas were a staple for most meals..
    but on New Years Day, the Christmas tree was down, the house cleaned, and we sat down to a meal of black eyed peas, ham if we were lucky, greens, baked sweet potatoes and cornbread..
    there also were green onions, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers..
    our peas had a dime in the bottom of the pot..
    It was said in our house, whatever you did on New Years, you would be doing all year long..
    so no laundry, (or you would be preparing clothes for a loved ones' funeral before year's end) no sweeping..
    basically it was a day of relaxation..
    I still hold true to those teachings..
    and will have the same Meal on this New Years Day..
    of course there will be NFL games all day long..
    and my computer if I should become too bored with NFL..
    have a wonderful New Year!!
    warmest hugs..
    Loui♥

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  5. Oddly enough I was in the grocery yesterday looking at a bag of black-eyed peas and wondering if my guys would enjoy them. LOL

    Happy New Year, my friend!

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  6. Hi, my name is Nezzy and I am 58 years old and have NEVER had black eyed peas! Maybe this is somethin' I need to put on my bucketlist!!! Heeehehehe!!!! :o)

    I have this theory about makin' resolutions. I think if ya just resolute to live each day to the best of your ability that's good enough. That way if ya mess up...which we're gonna...ya can always start with a new slate~~~~tomorrow!
    Just sayin'......

    Ya'll have a most fantastically blessed day! :o)

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  7. Oh, I've never heard of this tradition. In England, we used to put a coin into the Christmas pudding and the person who found it, was guaranteed prosperity for the coming year.

    I wish you and yours a wonderful year!

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  8. What nationality did that come from?
    My family was French and they gave out coins.. if you said Bonne annee bon santee. (o:
    I am sure you make a very good batch of them. Sounds good on this cold snowy day. Can you believe it finally snowed? Have a great weekend.

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  9. We always had black-eyed peas on New Year's Day, sans the coins. My daughters hated them so I always said, "You'll have one good day for each pea eaten." They ate maybe a week's worth. :o) I still make them, but now I squish up a can with salsa and cilantro and green onions to create a bean dip. That should be good for at least a month or two worth of beans/good days!

    Happy New Year to you, and stay safe and warm. A winter wonderland has FINALLY come our way!

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  10. I never knew I might like black eyed peas till someone in my book club made Hopping John -- delicious.

    We don't really have New Year's traditions the way we have Christmas ones. Other than staying up till midnight and having champagne. And we might forego that, too! Being under the weather doesn't foster late nights!

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  11. My mother in law use to make these on New Years day with corn bread and ham. She hasn't lately ...maybe that's what wrong!

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  12. After living in Paris for 15 years, it still seems strange to me that many Americans don't make a luxurious meal to start the year off. Foie gras and smoked salmon and champagne. I know that may sound expensive, but it seems like French families save for a special feast on that day. The French love to spend money on food. We're having 30 people over and I'm offering a KIR Royale punch and parmesan crusted chicken with boursin in croissant dough and salad with pecans, apples and gorgonzola. My friends are bringing appetizers and desserts. I try to do a little of Europe and the U.S. I love traditions, and it's great that you've kept yours. Never heard of the coins. Sounds like a wonderful tradition. Happy New Year.

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  13. Hi Jeanie, we had black eyed peas with grits and bacon this morning to start our new year. Hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful year in 2011.

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  14. Maybe black-eyed peas is what I need! I've never had them before but it's worth a try :-)

    Happy New Year Jeanie! I hope it's a wonderful, happy and healthy year for you and your family.

    xo jj

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  15. I've never been a big fan of them either...but hey, if it makes you lucky to eat them, I'm running off to the store to buy a 50 pound bag! ha!

    Hope your New Years is filled with joys and blessings!

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