History Of New Years Black Eyed Peas
Peas became symbolic of luck.
History of new years black eyed peas. A lot of the stuff we eat on new year s is soul food. Black eyed peas history can be traced back to medieval africa but trade routes made them common throughout europe and india. Black eyed peas are a new year s tradition in the south.
Though its roots do not stem from the south eating black eyed peas in particular dishes has become a southern tradition pelaccio said. They are part of the cowpea family and were introduced to the southern united states by slaves in as early as the 1600s. Digging into the history of this custom i found some interesting information as to why we eat black eyed peas on new year s day.
Black eyed peas eaten with stewed tomatoes represent wealth and health. Eating black eyed peas on new year s day has been considered good luck for at least 1 500 years. The surprising story of an american cuisine one plate at a time by adrian miller.
And are now grown in many asian countries as well as in parts of the usa. Black eyed peas on new year s. Black eyed peas were also given to slaves as were most other traditional new year s foods.
According to a portion of the talmud written around 500 a d it was jewish custom at the time to eat black eyed peas in celebration of rosh hashanah the jewish new year which occurs in the fall. Throughout the south the black eyed pea is still a widely used ingredient in soul food and cuisines of the southern united states. During the civil war some areas of the south were pillaged and food crops destroyed by the union army.
For the best chance of luck every day in the year ahead one must eat at least 365 black eyed peas on new year s day. Most of the black eyed pea cultivation occurred in the southern united states as early as the 17th century in virginia. History of black eyed peas.