Traditions for News Year

Viewing 16 reply threads
  • Author
    Posts
    • #265108
      wilbe95

      Okay I like the Tradition information that is being posted. I have lived in a few different places across the USA and have noticed that there are different meals served on New Years Day that signify something for the coming year.

      One example is that the part of Ohio I was born in you eat Sauerkraut on New Years Day, if you do you will have money all year. Something I still do to this day :). In Oklahoma it was Black Eye Peas-can’t recall the reason behind it.

      So my question is what traditional food do you serve for New Years Day and is there a reason behind it?
      Thanks, I look forward to seeing information 🙂

    • #401289
      JoAnn

      Even here in N. Ohio I still start a crockpot of Sauerkraut & pork of some kind, usually a pork roast–on New Eve–for New Years Day. My DH’s parensts did the same and they were from the Uk. There would be something missing in the house if I didn’t do this. There is a feeling of content, carry this tradition on.

    • #401295
      rtebalt

      In the South, you have Black Eyed Peas & Collard Greens

    • #401300
      JoAnn

      rtebalt, When they have Black Eyed Peas & Collard Greens, is there a story behind it ? Such as having good luck thur the New Year.

    • #401304
      rtebalt

      Yes, they say that if you eat Black Eyed Peas and greens on New Years Day you will have good luck through the New Year. (I’ve actually never done it, but that’s what most people eat where I come from.)

      Like so many other traditions, this one has many different stories as to how it got started. Here are a few that I have found:

      1.) Back in the days of the Old South, during the time of Southern gentility, and Northern hostility, the celebrated black eyed peas were used strictly for the feeding of cattle. During the Civil War battle of Vicksburg, the town was under siege for over 40 days. The Yankee soldiers burned all the crops except for the “cowpeas” which they considered worthless weeds. The Union army raided all the food supplies and took everything except the “cow peas” stored for the winter. With no supplies coming in the citizens suffered great deprivations.The entire town was on the brink of starvation, so in desperation they ate those humble “cowpeas” and were lucky to survive the war, thus starting a Southern tradition. Nowadays that is why it is considered good luck to eat black eyed peas on New Years Day.

      2.) Black eyed peas signify coins and the collard greens represent currency and thus represent hopes of prosperity and good luck in the coming new year.

      3.) All the way back to the days of the Pharaoh, blackeyed peas have been a symbol of luck and fortune. The superstition is that those who eat blackeyes, an inexpensive and modest food, show their humility instead of vanity, and thus save themselves from the wrath of the gods.

    • #401308
      JoAnn

      Oh My — What a wonderful History Lessons. I’m soo glad I asked . I like Black-Eye Peas and certainly Greens, but they have to be Fresh ones, the canned ones are to mushy for me. Might have to pull the crock pot out for this one. Your postings are really good. Thanks again.

    • #401313
      incheck4real

      I am from Kentucky but now live in Florida. Everyone in Kentucky eats black Eyed Peas & Cabbage on New Years Day. My Grandma the reason why was if you start the new year modest then the whole rest of the year you would have plenty.

    • #401326
      QueenSissi

      The biggest tradition here at home is to eat 12 currants at the stroke of midnight, for good luck and go up some stairs or chair – for good luck also.

    • #401409
      dyankee1995

      I live in the South, but was raised in the North. My neighbors all eat black eyed peas and collared greens on New Year’s day. But, they also refuse to do any wash that day, stating that if you do wash on New Year’s day you are washing someone out of your life for the year.

      Debbie

    • #401413
      wilbe95

      I have always been told that what you do on New Years Day is what you will spend the whole year doing. I admit that I avoid doing laundry on that day 🙂 or house cleaning but will cook!

    • #401425
      QueenSissi

      I was told that when my grandparents were young, people used to toss out old chipped dishware and really worn out clothes on 1st January so they could have a clean start.

      About the washing tradition, had never heard of that, but it may be a good cleansing ritual for recently divorced – instant ex wash out 🙂

    • #401630
      Pyxidragon

      Our food “tradition” for New Years day is to spend it snacking on leftovers from the New Year’s Eve party we always host. Oh, and the no laundry thing. I don’t see the point to it, but the dh insists it’s bad luck.

    • #435889
      Melissa Burnell

      @wilbe95 87211 wrote:

      Okay I like the Tradition information that is being posted. I have lived in a few different places across the USA and have noticed that there are different meals served on New Years Day that signify something for the coming year.

      One example is that the part of Ohio I was born in you eat Sauerkraut on New Years Day, if you do you will have money all year. Something I still do to this day :). In Oklahoma it was Black Eye Peas-can’t recall the reason behind it.

      So my question is what traditional food do you serve for New Years Day and is there a reason behind it?

      Cornbread- it is said, in the South, that eating cornbread will bring wealth as it represents Gold

      Cooked Greens– collards, cabbage, sauerkraut etc- they represent Folded money, so your wallet will always be full

      Pork– to move forward in the New Year, because pigs are incapable of turning their heads to look backwards, it’s also a sign of prosperity, back in the day, having a pig meant you had some wealth

      Black Eyed Peas– because they represent Coins/ copper money

      Tomatoes– they represent good health

      Sweets– are said to be symbolic of a sweet year full of luck

      Spanish & Cuban Folks eat 12 Grapes when the clock strikes midnight- to represent the previous 12 months of the year as well as 12 Sweet months in the New Year

      Ring Shaped Foods– again, good luck and it symbolizes “Coming full circle”, the Dutch, in particular, believe that eating donuts on the new year is very good luck.

      Noodles– if you’re a buddhist, get out the noodles! They believe eating them at Midnight is some seriously Good Luck for the coming year!

      In the Philippines, they prefer to have a full table of food on New Years at Midnight to guarantee an abundance of food in the New Year & they also collect 7 pieces of round fruit to signify money and sound financial status all year long. The full table at midnight is also traditional in Germany as well.

      Italians tend to serve raisins, lentils, and oranges which are symbols of Good Luck, Riches and the Promise of Love.

      That’s all the ones I’ve heard about! I’d love to hear more . . .

    • #435920
      Virginia

      When I was young, we had homemade Sugar Donuts for Breakfast on New Years Day. For Dinner we had Sauerkraut with Beef Tips and Sourdough Rolls. Not everyone would eat Sauerkraut, so, alternately Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwiches on Sourdough Rolls with steaming hot bowls of Tomato Soup was available (some had both). A few years we had a Kings Cake for desert. I do not know if there was a reason behind any of it, just what my parents wanted I guess.

      I have heard that you do not want to eat anything with wings as your good luck will fly away. Also, you want your first visitor to be a good looking, young man bearing gifts, this will bring good luck and you will have a prosperous year.

      Thanks; Virginia

    • #435922
      jkpjohnson

      Our family has never had any New Year traditions (other than recovery from New Years Eve 😉 ). The past few years DH has worked (triple time), so it seems like any other day around here. Maybe next year we will start a tradition. Thinking about it, we have no traditions around here, maybe time to start some.

    • #435940
      MrsPaws

      Being from the South, we do the traditional Southern New Year’s Day meal.
      AND, since I’ve heard the thing about house cleaning and laundry on New Year’s, I avoid them at the start of the year. lol

    • #435980
      BaconEater

      multistars smilie We avoided house cleaning and we had a house FULL of people at the strike of midnight. Shouldn’t that mean the house will be full of guests all year long??

      Of course, we spent all Day Today Scrubbing floors, countertops, etc.

Viewing 16 reply threads
  • You must be logged in to reply to this topic.