by Sandra Merville Hart

When I was a little girl, my dad insisted that I eat at least one spoonful of black-eyed peas for good luck on New Year’s Day. I didn’t like them. Eating even a spoonful seemed like a high price to pay for good luck in the new year.

Each year in December, I buy black-eyed peas to supplement our New Year’s meal—that is, when the grocery store doesn’t run out of them. That’s happened several times. Apparently, others are looking for the same good luck. I guess I’m just superstitious enough after hearing the saying year after year to worry when I don’t get them. We all need a little luck, after all.

Folks from the southern United States eat black-eyed peas on January 1^st. Cornbread is another favorite in that section of the country. Eating green, leafy vegetables, supposed to resemble money, brings prosperity.

Citizens in Spain eat 12 grapes at midnight. Each grape represents one month of the year. If the fifth and sixth grape taste especially bad, May and June might be a little difficult.

Germans, Austrians, and Hungarians are among those who eat pork on New Year’s. Pigs signify progress. Roast pork, pig’s feet, and sausages are a few of the meals prepared.

Ring-shaped or round cakes are another tradition. Those who find a tiny treat baked inside will have good luck in the new year.

One of the foods to avoid on New Year’s Day is lobster. Eating these is thought to bring setbacks because they move backwards. Chickens scratch backwards. The superstition here is that eating chicken on January 1^st may cause the diner’s thoughts to linger on the past.

It’s fun to look at our habits of celebrating the coming year in our meals. There are a lot of choices, but I think I will continue the tradition of black-eyed peas for our meal.

What is your traditional New Year’s meal?

Happy New Year!

Sources

Cameron, Meaghan. “7 Lucky New Years Foods,” Reader’s Digest, 2016/10/26 http://www.rd.com/food/fun/7-lucky-new-years-foods/.

Salkeld, Lauren. “Lucky Foods for the New Year,” Epicurious, 2016/10/26 

http://www.epicurious.com/archive/holidays/newyearsday/luckyfoods.

“Ten Good Luck Foods For the New Year,” Woman’s Day, 2016/10/26  http://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/g2085/good-luck-foods-for-the-new-year/.