Good morning!
It is a common belief in the south that eating black eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings good luck. Prosperity for the coming year.
Since the peas swell when cooked, they symbolize increase and prosperity. They are often accompanied with pork or bacon. Again, representing prosperity since pigs root forward when foraging.
It dates back to the Civil War. It is believed that General Sherman’s Union Army pilferaged Confederate homes for supplies, and when they found black eyed peas and salt pork, they thought they were food for the animals and left them behind. The Confederates felt lucky to have a food supply left for their winter.
Black eyed peas have high nutritional value and add nitrogen back to the soil. Sounds to me like they’re not just good for luck, but good for your health as well.
I’m not superstitious. And I really don’t believe in good luck. I believe in trusting in God. I choose God’s favor over luck. But one thing I can say is, I ate black eyed peas on New Year’s Day last year, and my 2017 could not have been any better, so guess what was on our table at brunch yesterday?
You guessed it! Black eyed peas! And I had seconds! 😊
Here’s to a year of prosperity for all my Facebook friends and family whether or not you ate a black eyed pea this New Year’s Day.
An arogant man stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will prosper. Proverbs 28:25
Love and laughter,
Sandy
