Pork, Black Eyed Peas, Cabbage, and Cornbread… Is that the general consensus for NYD?

Please feel free to share what you’ve heard passed down about the origin of these foods in southern tradition as well.

These foods have always been on the table in my life for as long as I can remember, but I do find it fascinating how we start the new year off looking for wealth, luck, and health in consuming what was rejected by many as being reserved for poor people, but then poor people food is always that which is most beloved in every culture, and that which identifies cultures much more so than food that is reserved for the more affluent.

Although not without dispute, according to much of what I’ve read, the Southern Tradition claims that the traditional foods served on NYD represent a start to the new year. I’m really curious to what you’ve been taught these foods represent growing up.

Pork: (Progress) The rich always had an abundance of pigs on their farms, and so pork was associated with people of means, even the scraps left over which would be cured and made into salt pork, which is what many say apparently started the tradition of pork in the lineup.

Black Eyed Peas: (Luck) When the Union invaded Southern States and ransacked the countryside and it’s infrastructure, farms, and plantations, the only thing left was black eyed peas which they regarded as food for livestock, and so it remained one of the few things people could find to eat and they considered themselves lucky to have it.

Cabbage: (Health/Wealth) This one isn’t so clear as apparently it represents both health and wealth as it’s obviously high in nutrients for your health, but also due to it being green in color, it’s also said by some to represent the dollar.

Cornbread: (Wealth) Being gold in color, it has been said to obviously represent gold for your future.