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What are your traditions for New Year’s?   I’ve always heard to eat black eyed peas for good luck, cornbread for good luck and fortune and collard greens to bring you money.    However, how did this tradition start?

Through research, the custom of eating black eyed peas for good luck dates back 1500 years to a Jewish custom.   The reasons for eating these peas (they are really beans) goes as follows:

  • Dried beans are said to loosely resemble coins (I still don’t understand that one!)
  • It is said to eat these black eyed peas demonstrates humility and a lack of vanity  — “Eat poor on New Year’s and eat fat the rest of the year.”
  • These beans expand in volume and it symbolizes expanding wealth

Greens are also associated with good fortune and wealth.  They are green in color (as is money), so any green will do for this!   Finally, it is said that golden cornbread is for wealth as well.   A phrase in the south is:  “Peas for pennies, greens for dollars, and cornbread for gold.”

So, however you and your family choose to celebrate the new year, Gala Event Facility wishes you a safe and happy 2015!   May you and yours be blessed with happiness, health, love and wealth!   As for me and my family, we aren’t taking any chances!  I will be cooking black eyed peas, turnip greens and cornbread on New Year’s Day!