Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Happy New Year! What To Eat For Good Luck On New Year's Day?

Although I am not at all superstitious...except for avoiding black cats, always keeping a rabbit's foot in my pocket, picking up pennies on sidewalks, trying not to hear thunder in February, never drinking bourbon while eating bananas, or milk with fish, etc., etc....I do follow the old Southern tradition of ALWAYS eating black-eyed peas, cornbread, and greens (the color of money)...cooked with ham hocks (because pigs always go forward since they cannot see or walk backwards) for good luck and prosperity in the new year. Besides, I like these healthy dishes. What do y'all eat on New Year's Day? Please page down or scroll down to the bottom of this page to see my animated Happy New Year's Card.

13 comments:

Southern Lady said...

Jon, we're having our traditional New Year's Day black-eyed peas and cornbread (I mix mine together), cabbage for prosperity, sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese (my favorite comfort food, next to mashed potatoes), and ham.

I hope you have a peaceful and happy New Year's celebration and enjoy all that good food.

Sincerely,

Janie

Anonymous said...

Jon, on New Year's Day, I will be fixing ham, cornbread, and Glorified Cabbage, a dish with so much cheese and mushrooms, you really can't taste the cabbage (which I really don't like). I hope you have a happy New Year and a happy, healthy, prosperous 2009.

Jan
Always Growing

Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog said...

Jon, I never grew up with that tradition but I guess I've been lucky so far. :-)

Best of the new year to you!
Jean

Aiyana said...

Jon,
We have lentil soup on New Years Day, which is supposed to symbolize money coming your way for the coming year. Not a bad thought, but we just like lentil soup in cold weather. I also make a southwestern cornbread with chopped green chili and corn in it.
Hope the New Year brings you health, happiness and all that's good.
Aiyana

Anonymous said...

Hi Jon, I liked the new year's card, very festive, tweet, the sound of my noisemaker practice for tonight! We have to have black eyed peas if nothing else. When in PA we had to have pork and sauerkraut, maybe for the same reason as the ham hocks and greens, luckily the peas went well with the kraut! Whatever we eat, let us all wish for the best year ever in 2009! And thank you so much for those kind words in your comment, I do appreciate you!
Frances

Annie in Austin said...

Happy New Year, Jon!

Guess I'd better get to the grocery before it closes and get the black-eyed peas and some greens. We have ingredients for cornmeal but you're on your own with the ham.

Where I grew up people ate pickled herring on New Years Eve for luck...well, the grown up people ate it - none of us kids would touch it.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

chuck b. said...

That sounds delicious. Can we get a side of hushpuppies?

And a really tall flute of bubbly.

Happy New Year!

Philip Bewley said...

Hi Jon!
I like your New Years tradition. That looks delicious. We will have to adopt that!
Wishing you all the Best this New Years!
Philip

Anonymous said...

Jon-

Yummy! I wish we had those type of traditions where I come from. I think these Southern comfort foods are something I need to try in the future. Happy New Year to you! Fran

Unknown said...

We had chili! Guess I'm not too traditional. LOL

Happy New Year Jon!

Halcyon said...

In my family we didn't do the greens or cornbread, but we always had black eyed peas.

I made a big salad over the weekend with the peas, tomatoes, green onions, corn and a green pepper. I covered it all with a citrus vinigrette sauce - yumm! Perhaps I should eat the peas more often during the year. :)

Barbara said...

We do not have a traditional New Year's dinner here in Switzerland. I think it depends from family to family what they are eating (and make it to a tradition!). We usually have a fondue (either with cheese or with meat) or a raclette. The main purpose is to have a looooong dinner together with family or friends and then start New Year together. Happy New Year to you too!
Barbara

Unknown said...

We always eat collard greens and black-eyed peas. Always. This year, as is Charleston-style, we had our black-eyed peas in Hoppin' John.