Why do Americans eat cabbage black eye peas and hog jowl on January 1st?

Answer 1

Many parts of the U.S. celebrate the new year by consuming black-eyed peas. These legumes are typically accompanied by either hog jowls or ham. Black-eyed peas and other legumes have been considered good luck in many cultures. The hog, and thus its meat, is considered lucky because it symbolizes prosperity. Cabbage is another "good luck" vegetable that is consumed on New Year's Day by many. Cabbage leaves are also considered a sign of prosperity, being representative of paper currency. In some regions, rice is a lucky food that is eaten on New Year's Day.



Midnight~Angel :)

Answer 2

Well, it is really obvious that most of the people replying are not from the South (the real South, not the Southeast). I was raised on a farm in Arkansas (a state I still live in and am proud of) and therefore can answer this question about this southern tradition. It is true that all of the items represent luck and wealth in the new year. We don't really eat much of the hog jowl because it is very fatty - it basically just flavors the peas. The people that say that Americans don't eat this on Jan 1st are not incorrect - - - not all Americans do this. It is a southern thing.

Answer 3

Well, I don't eat hog jowl, yuck, but the cabbage stands for the green money and the peas for the pennies. It's just an old tradition in the South. I have never eaten hog jowl before.

Answer 4

Basically it came about doing hard times in the south.
Black eye peas : Money (small)
Chitterlings: High on the Hog good living
Greens/ Cabbage: Big Money (dollar bills)
They had to eat what the land afforded them to eat, and everybody had a garden and a hog or two that was slaughtered during the fall/winter

Answer 5

I've never eaten hog jowl. And I haven't had black eyed peas in years. Cabbage - raw and cooked - is enjoyed in my home year round. We do eat pork on New Years Day and avoid chicken because my great grandparents always said...Eat pork so you'll live high off the hog all year, but if you eat chicken, you'll be scratching for a living!

Happy New Years!

Answer 6

turning out to be up southern, and now with my own kin, we've black-eyed peas, collard vegetables, and hog jaw (jowls) for sparkling Years Dinner. The black-eyed peas are think to hold you luck interior the imminent 3 hundred and sixty 5 days. The vegetables are for money - the greater you consume, the greater you will get in the process the 300 and sixty 5 days. And something, because of the fact we continuously make a surprisingly hardy meal, is so as which you are going to consume nicely for something of the 300 and sixty 5 days.

Answer 7

Geez, stereo-type much?

America covers a vast cross-section of cultures, ethnic communities and inherent tastes for a huge variety of foods.

While persons in one pocket of the Gulf-states may have a greater desire for Cajun cuisine, those in another stretch of the same Gulf would desire the deep smokey flavours of tex-mex.

All in all, why does it matter to you? Is there a reason to ask the question or are is this just another of the endless jibs people seem to need to have at the Americans, mostly due to boredom and a lack of imagination in finding anything better to do?

PS - We'll be having an Apple-wood smoked pork roast, cabbage braised with lardons and finished with cream, roast brussel sprouts and buttery cheddar mashed potatoes. Haven't decided on the dessert yet, but am leaning towards some good old-fashioned, chewy fudge brownies.

Answer 8

In the Southern (south east) tradition it is called Hoppin John
Black Eye peas, rice, ham (not necessarily hog jowl) and hot sauce. instead of cabbage we would use collard or mustard greens. The black eye peas are to represent coins or wealth for the New year to come and the greens are for greenbacks or dollar bills, again wealth of the new year.

Answer 9

It's a Southern US tradition, not very widespread. Each of those items is supposed to represent wealth for the new year:

Cabbage=green for money
Black-eyed peas=supposedly look like "little coins"
Hog jowl=pork is historically considered "rich" and fattening (though with more recent feeding methods, it's actually quite lean)

Answer 10

i dont know where a lot of these people have been...its a wide spread tradition to eat black eyed peas on new years for luck...the hog jowl is a joke...but i live in the midwest and every one here has black eyed peas whether they eat them or not....lol