pammyam on tue 1 jan 02
Dear Clayart people,
In a group so various, I thought I might get some
answers or theories to the question of where the
tradition of cooking black eyed peas on New Year's
Day came from. For those who don't know what I'm
talking about, I don't really, either. As long as
I can recall, my family and extended family,
basically Virginians, have fixed the peas on New
Year's, and it's supposedly for good luck in the
coming year. My husband's family has pretty much
done the same, and the local food markets always
promote sales of the peas at New Year's. Some
people must have stewed tomatoes with them. Some
must have chopped raw Spring onions. Some must
have ham hock. Any other information or
must-haves?
Happy New Year!
Pam
pammyam on tue 1 jan 02
Answering my own question:
I just received this answer from the friend who asked me
where the tradition originated (he is originally from
Colombia--I had never even wondered why.)
"I was listening to NPR in my studio this morning an
apparently that was the only crop that the Yankees did not
destroyed. Southerners consider them to bring good luck in
the new year."
Pam
L. P. Skeen on tue 1 jan 02
Pam,
I believe that the peas represent pennies and collards represent dollars.
Peas and collards are usually eaten together on New Year's.
L
----- Original Message -----
From: pammyam
Subject: OT: Black Eyed Peas
> answers or theories to the question of where the
> tradition of cooking black eyed peas on New Year's
> Day came from.
Rikki Gill on tue 1 jan 02
What does a Californian, raised in Boston know about such matters? However
my friend, raised in New Orleans, always serves collards and black eyed
peas
on new years day for good luck, as well. There they are called, hoppin
john. Best wishes for the new year to all. Rikki
-----Original Message-----
From: L. P. Skeen
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Date: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 9:31 AM
Subject: Re: OT: Black Eyed Peas
>Pam,
>
>I believe that the peas represent pennies and collards represent dollars.
>Peas and collards are usually eaten together on New Year's.
>
>L
>----- Original Message -----
>From: pammyam
>Subject: OT: Black Eyed Peas
>
>
>> answers or theories to the question of where the
>> tradition of cooking black eyed peas on New Year's
>> Day came from.
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>
Millie Carpenter on tue 1 jan 02
Okay, I wasn't going to ring in on this one but...
black eyed peas biled down with a ham hock if you were lucky, fatback if you
won't., mixed with rice is hoppin' john. (I think he was a hoppin because after
all the collards, someone got to the the outhouse afore him.) and lots of
cornbread for soppin. My husband says that the more peas you eat, the richer
you will be in the new year. Now my parents, the quintesential New York Jews who
moved to NC in 1946 didn't do this. So my mother-in-law taught me to fix all
this. but the best part is that she always fixes collards and freezes containers
of them and we bring them back, and collards are not really something that you
want to cook in the winter in a closed up house. or at least I don't. Now my
husband said that collards can't be greenbacks because greenbacks were federal
money and this tradition started durring the War of Northern Agression. CSA money
was printed on a buff colored paper.
It is so nice to have each part of the meal presented in a different handmade
bowl, some I made, some I traded for and some I bought. It's like having my
friends at my table all the time.
Millie in Md where people are too far south to be Northerners and too far north to
be southerners. And tomorrow my youngest will turn 21. those of you who have
babies and small children, enjoy them while you can. the years fly by so quickly
and unlike the clay, you don't have a second chance to raise them and form them.
And the wonderful thing about this country is that if you aren't happy with this
new year 2002. you can celebrate the Chinese New Year next month and start over.
or Passover starts the first month of the Hebrew calendar, New Years day(the Head
of the Months) is in the 7th month, don't ask, and we have two more New Years
also. I don't know when other cultures celebrate a new year but I have a feeling
that there are a few more scattered out over the calendar. it is great to live in
a place where you have so many chances and choices
M.
Jim V Brooks on tue 1 jan 02
Pam.. i am a Texan ( yes Tony..I know you already know that ).and the
tradition of having blackeyed peas on New Years Day goes back to Ancient
Egypt..
Black eyed peas are native to Egypt (as are onions and okra). The people
of Egypt would harvest the peas when they were dry.. and store them in large
eathenware jars ( guess the had potters there also and, they invented the
wheel).. If..when the new year came. and they had peas left.( the weevils
had not eaten them all).. it was considered a sign of good luck.. They had
food left....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea.!!!!!!. Lets celebrate...(not to be
confused with celibate which would not be a reason to celebrate).. Cook the
peas.. eat , drink.. and have a good time..!!!
This custom was brought to the Old South by slaves. It has endured.. and
is fine with me.. I love blackeyed peas.!!!!
Pam.. this is true.. not made up.. Have fun today..and of course have some
blackeyed peas. (which are enhanced with homemade cornbread...).............
Jim in Denton.
Jim V Brooks on tue 1 jan 02
blackeyed peas.and collard greens.. i dont think so..........
Valice Raffi on tue 1 jan 02
Pam wrote:
>In a group so various, I thought I might get some
>answers or theories to the question of where the
>tradition of cooking black eyed peas on New Year's
>Day came from.
My family has that tradition too - funny because I would expect it from my
Dad's side (Tennessee = Southern Tradition), but my Mom from North Dakota
always served them too.
I've gotten a little loose with the way I cook them, sometimes adding this
or that. Usually I saute some hot pork sausage with onion & a little
garlic & cook the peas (with some tomatos) in that. Still haven't lived
down the time I added some green bell pepper, my aunt in Memphis still
teases me over that. My peas have gotten so popular I'm asked to bring
them to pot lucks at all times of the year, gotta keep the good luck
rolling.
gonna go stir the pot of peas now - that's my dinner tonight - along with
some swiss chard 'cause I don't have any collards!
Valice
in Sacramento
pammyam on wed 2 jan 02
Jim, I hope you're not pulling my leg with a tall Texas
tale. I like this explanation best of all, so I'm sticking
with it anyhow. I wonder if the black eyes of the peas had
any influence on Cleopatra's eye makeup style.
I never cook peas the same way twice, and this year's were
pretty good but not my best effort:
Olive oil, onion, garlic, vegetable broth, white wine,
celery, freshly cracked black pepper, dried summer savory
(ample), pinch of basil, pinch of thyme, and collards just
because I had them. I'd have used spinach otherwise.
Topped 'em with little fresh tomatoes and served with crusty
wheat bread in the absence of the proper cornbread.
They're tasting pretty good as breakfast.
Pam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim V Brooks
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 7:44 PM
Subject: Re: OT: Black Eyed Peas
: Pam.. i am a Texan ( yes Tony..I know you already know
that ).and the
: tradition of having blackeyed peas on New Years Day goes
back to Ancient
: Egypt..
:
: Black eyed peas are native to Egypt (as are onions and
okra). The people
: of Egypt would harvest the peas when they were dry.. and
store them in large
: eathenware jars ( guess the had potters there also and,
they invented the
: wheel).. If..when the new year came. and they had peas
left.( the weevils
: had not eaten them all).. it was considered a sign of good
luck.. They had
: food left....!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yea.!!!!!!. Lets
celebrate...(not to be
: confused with celibate which would not be a reason to
celebrate).. Cook the
: peas.. eat , drink.. and have a good time..!!!
:
: This custom was brought to the Old South by slaves. It
has endured.. and
: is fine with me.. I love blackeyed peas.!!!!
:
: Pam.. this is true.. not made up.. Have fun today..and of
course have some
: blackeyed peas. (which are enhanced with homemade
cornbread...).............
:
: Jim in Denton.
pammyam on wed 2 jan 02
Lisa, this issue should be covered fully in The Second
Edition, yes?
----- Original Message -----
From: "L. P. Skeen"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: OT: Black Eyed Peas
: Pam,
:
: I believe that the peas represent pennies and collards
represent dollars.
: Peas and collards are usually eaten together on New
Year's.
:
: L
pammyam on wed 2 jan 02
Valice, it's funny you should mention the green peppers.
I'm fonder of red or yellow or orange ones, and I considered
adding a bit to my batch of peas. Something in the back of
my mind about some peas I fixed several years ago using an
elaborate recipe with a reduced vinegar marinade that also
used red peppers gave me pause. It was not the best and was
a royal pain to prepare. I kept mine fairly simple and
vegetarian, and by the way, they are great with a glass of
the remaining champagne.
Pam
----- Original Message -----
From: "Valice Raffi"
To:
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 7:10 PM
Subject: Re: OT: Black Eyed Peas
: Pam wrote:
: >In a group so various, I thought I might get some
: >answers or theories to the question of where the
: >tradition of cooking black eyed peas on New Year's
: >Day came from.
:
: My family has that tradition too - funny because I would
expect it from my
: Dad's side (Tennessee = Southern Tradition), but my Mom
from North Dakota
: always served them too.
:
: I've gotten a little loose with the way I cook them,
sometimes adding this
: or that. Usually I saute some hot pork sausage with onion
& a little
: garlic & cook the peas (with some tomatos) in that. Still
haven't lived
: down the time I added some green bell pepper, my aunt in
Memphis still
: teases me over that. My peas have gotten so popular I'm
asked to bring
: them to pot lucks at all times of the year, gotta keep the
good luck
: rolling.
:
: gonna go stir the pot of peas now - that's my dinner
tonight - along with
: some swiss chard 'cause I don't have any collards!
:
: Valice
: in Sacramento
:
:
____________________________________________________________
__________________
: Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
:
: You may look at the archives for the list or change your
subscription
: settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
:
: Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached
at melpots@pclink.com.
:
Wanda Holmes on wed 2 jan 02
I don't know where it came from, but this Texas girl is glad to have it. We
had yellow corn grits, black-eyed peas, and mustard greens for dinner last
night. Ohhmmmmmm good!
Wanda
-----Original Message-----
From: Ceramic Arts Discussion List [mailto:CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG]On
Behalf Of Valice Raffi
Sent: Tuesday, January 01, 2002 6:11 PM
To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG
Subject: Re: OT: Black Eyed Peas
Pam wrote:
>In a group so various, I thought I might get some
>answers or theories to the question of where the
>tradition of cooking black eyed peas on New Year's
>Day came from.
My family has that tradition too - funny because I would expect it from my
Dad's side (Tennessee = Southern Tradition), but my Mom from North Dakota
always served them too.
I've gotten a little loose with the way I cook them, sometimes adding this
or that. Usually I saute some hot pork sausage with onion & a little
garlic & cook the peas (with some tomatos) in that. Still haven't lived
down the time I added some green bell pepper, my aunt in Memphis still
teases me over that. My peas have gotten so popular I'm asked to bring
them to pot lucks at all times of the year, gotta keep the good luck
rolling.
gonna go stir the pot of peas now - that's my dinner tonight - along with
some swiss chard 'cause I don't have any collards!
Valice
in Sacramento
____________________________________________________________________________
__
Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
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