Why do people eat black-eyed peas for New Year’s Day?

It’s a tradition to eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day, but why do people do it?

New Year’s Day carries some weird customs, one of which is eating black-eyed peas.

Being born and raised in the South, I have seen this tradition first hand. My late grandmother used to prepare black-eyed peas every New Year’s Day, adding diced white onions and a dash of salt and pepper to the mix. I did that custom too, but mostly because I love black-eyed peas.

When I got older, I decided to look into the meaning of why people must eat black-eyed peas on the first day of the New Year. When I asked my grandmother this very question, she told me that it is to bring you good luck into the New Year.

I believed her. But, then again, grandparents can tell you anything. So, I turned to my trusty investigative skills to look up the meaning of why people eat black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day.

This is what I found.

According to Susan Pierce of the Chattanooga Times Free-Press, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is a southern tradition that is often the first thing that you eat in the New Year. Why? Because the peas (if cooked right) are supposed to bring you luck and prosperity, with each pea that you eat representing each day of the year.

There’s even a certain way that you eat them, too. There are way too many to mention in one piece, but I’ll give you the best out of the bunch:

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If you serve the pears with any type of greens (mustard, collards, or turnips), the peas are supposed to represent coins and the greens paper money, meaning that you will be granted financial prosperity.

Now that you know this tradition, if you excuse me, I have to make a run to the grocery store.