I am curious about different people's New Year's traditions. My mom always made fudge. My MIL says it's good luck to eat black eyed peas on New Year's. What are yours?

-- Debbie in Mo (risingwind@socket.net), January 01, 2002

Answers

Blackeye peas for luck, collard greens for money..... and the smoked hog jowl is for seasoning or maybe a stroke. :>)

-- Jay Blair in N. AL (jayblair678@yahoo.com), January 01, 2002.

In many parts of the country for luck you eat black eyed peas, in others it is cabbage -- so we have both, just in case! I make a good ham dinner with all the trimmings and...of course...our favorite new year's tradition....FOOTBALL!! And, oh yes, a nap!

-- Karen (db0421@yahoo.com), January 01, 2002.

FOOTBALL,FOOTBALL,FOOTBALL,FOOTBALL,FOOTBALL,FOOTBALL. Happy Future, Jim

-- Jim Raymond (jimr@terraworld.net), January 01, 2002.

It's sauerkraut and pork in this area of OH.

-- vicki in NW OH (thga76@aol.com), January 01, 2002.

We have collard greens (money),black-eyed peas (health), ham(love)! The more collards you eat the more money you'll have! The more peas you eat the healthier you'll be and eating ham send Cupid your way!

Happy New Years to you all. Thank you for all the advice, laughs and information you have shared with me!

-- Debbie T in N.C. (rdtyner@mindspring.com), January 01, 2002.

Black eyed peas, collards and smoked hog jowls here! Mom was a southern belle so we ate this combination on more than just New Years Day. We sure didn't complain!

-- cowgirlone (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 01, 2002.

Hoppin john [-sans pork!] & fried eggs & collards. All to prove your good husbandry of the land & pantry management skills. or 'eat poor that day eat rich the rest of the days.'

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), January 01, 2002.

Cabbage for health, blackeyed peas for wealth, and hawg jowles for luck. Supposedly back in the old days you were to receive $1.00 for every pea you ate on New Years day. Inflation has hit so it is now $100.00 for every pea you eat.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), January 01, 2002.

For me, the new year starts when I plant my peas, so I don't really have any traditions for January 1. However, my sister-in-law informed me that jello salad is a tradition for new years eve dinner in that branch of the family. Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction!

-- Sheryl in Me (radams@sacoriver.net), January 02, 2002.