New Year's Traditions in the South

Good Luck, Health, and Financial Success Are Just a Meal Away

The last food that is part of New Year's traditions in the South is black-eyed peas. These have to be the most hated of the New Year's Day traditions in the South. Again, you can make homemade, but I actually prefer Bush's Black-Eyed Peas with Bacon. They actually taste better than any I've ever had and truth be told, I don't care for black eyed peas. But, like every good Southern girl, I eat black eyed peas every New Year's Day to ensure that I have luck throughout the New Year.

Now you may be asking, why are these foods part of the New Year's traditions in the South? While, it's uncertain why Southerners started the traditions of eating hog's jowl for health and greens for money, there is an interesting story around why we eat black-eyed peas in the South on New Year's. During the Civil War, Confederate troops were attacked and all of their food was taken, except the black-eyed peas. The Union soldiers thought the black-eyed peas with feed for livestock and left them behind. The Confederate troops felt lucky to have those black-eyed peas to help them get through the war.

Whether you live in the South or not, try these New Year's traditions. You never know. These traditions could help you end up with more money, better luck, and good health all year long.