Yesterday I succumbed to an “Old School” tradition and cooked the New Year’s Day meal that has been a constant in my family since forever. I used to say these were African American dishes, but from years of sharing traditions with the readers of this blog, I’ve come to realize that other races embrace many of the same traditions, sayings, and beliefs as Black people. (see the comments on my favorite southern sayings link)
My daughter had just returned from a trip yesterday and a long airport lay-over, but when she learned that I’d made these favorites, she hurried over. Today, my sister-in-law and niece are coming for leftovers.
My menu consisted of collard greens, black-eyed peas, rice, cornbread, and catfish. The traditional meat is pork and I used smoked pork neckbones to infuse more flavor into my greens, but I also served fried catfish.
Collard Greens represent wealth.
Black-eyed peas represent coins, luck, or prosperity (rice is a favorite accompaniment of peas and beans).
Cornbread represents gold. Eating it brings hope of extra money in the new year.
Pork represent prosperity and progress because unlike chickens or turkeys, pigs root ahead as they eat and not backwards.
Happy 2022 to you and your families. I hope that the new year will bring new hopes, joys, accomplishments, and good health. Thank you for your comments, and I invite your continued help and support in 2022.
The Long and Short Stories of Life my 
Happy new year, Linda! As much as I love me some bacon and pork rinds, my digestive system cannot process pork, so it’s off limits to me. 😥 The Cuban traditional meal is white rice, black beans, yucca (which I pronounce yuck-uh), and pork. I don’t each those items, either. Lol! Oh, well! I do love that you have a tradition and that you share it with your friends and family. 🙂
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Hi, Yvette! I’ve only had the black beans from Chipotle but like them with a little rice. Thanks so much for sharing your traditional meal! Happy New Year!🎊 (how about those pork rinds? Yum!🤣)
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Happy New Year, Linda! I love the New Year meal tradition!
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Happy New Year, Jan!🎉Best to you in twenty-two!🥳
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I have done the New Year meal tradition for more than 25 years. Thanks for explaining the meaning of each dish. Most interesting!
Cheers!
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Great to have you comment, Gracie! Happy New Year!🎉
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Happy New Year, Linda! 🎉✨ Thanks for sharing… We had cornbread and black-eyed peas. ❤
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Happy New Year, Bette! Please share the wealth!🤣
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Happy New year, Linda. All the best for 2022. We had our blackeyed peas and pulled pork, so you are right—a common tradition.
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Happy New Year, John! 🥳
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😊
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