Black-eyed peas and greens: Why we eat special foods on New Year's Day

Via Billy

 

For as long as I can remember, I was taught that on Jan. 1, it was important to eat certain foods for good luck and prosperity. It was a tradition that my family never omitted on the first day of any year.

First in importance, tradition says, is the inclusion of black-eyed peas in your New Year's Day menu.

The most widely told story says that during the Civil War, black-eyed peas were a prevalent crop in the South. The peas were primarily grown as food for livestock, and they did well in the soil and climate of the Southern states.

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