Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Cooking & Baking

yellowdogintexas

(22,971 posts)

16. Black eyed peas were considered "low class food", fit only for the pigs

Reply to AllaN01Bear (Original post)

Sun Jan 7, 2024, 11:32 PM

Jan 2024

slaves and poor whites. When the Civil War was drawing to a close, and food was scarce one thing that they had was black eyed peas and greens, so everybody ate them. It was not much but it was what they had, so as things got better they became associated with good fortune.

So I was told, anyway

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

16 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

what is this tradition of black eye peas on new years. enquiring minds want to know [View all] AllaN01Bear Dec 2023 OP

It represents good fortune (the round beans represent coinage)... hlthe2b Dec 2023 #1

thanks. AllaN01Bear Dec 2023 #2

I love black-eyed peas and cornbread but you couldn't pay me to eat grits. LoisB Dec 2023 #8

Grits are actually pretty nice Warpy Jan 2024 #12

I like your start. LoisB Jan 2024 #13

just let me make you a cheese grits souffle. You will not (believe it is grits yellowdogintexas Jan 2024 #14

My Southern friends make it every New Years Day CanonRay Dec 2023 #3

I've never done it Jilly_in_VA Dec 2023 #4

I'm from the south, and we always ate black eyed peas and greens brer cat Dec 2023 #5

My mother, who was from Texas, always made us eat black eyed peas and cornbread for good luck on ratchiweenie Dec 2023 #6

My mom always made us eat a bite or two for luck. I did not like them either yellowdogintexas Jan 2024 #15

My understanding is that eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day is supposed to bring good luck all year. LoisB Dec 2023 #7

Don't forget the greens for good luck 😁 Lochloosa Dec 2023 #9

update ,sometimes norma would also make biscuts and gravey also. mmmmm. AllaN01Bear Dec 2023 #10

My ancestry is from Ohio and we always ate black-eyed peas on New Years Day. I remember my sinkingfeeling Dec 2023 #11

Black eyed peas were considered "low class food", fit only for the pigs yellowdogintexas Jan 2024 #16