New Year’s Traditions

I noticed it during the few days we spent at Mom’s place over the holidays. Right there in the middle of Mom’s dining room table sat a big green bowl heaped high with packages of dried black-eyed peas. A note in my mother’s handwriting was taped to the bowl, reading: “If you don’t already have your New Year’s peas, take a bag.”

Now that’s my mom for you— always making sure her family and friends are properly prepared for good fortune in the coming year.

I grew up in a household that always served black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day. I don’t think I’ve ever missed eating peas and greens on January 1st—not that I’ve been exceptionally fortunate. But then again, had I not eaten them, what would’ve happened? What kind of bad luck would I have encountered?

For those who didn’t grow up with this Southern tradition, blackeyed peas symbolize coins, greens (mustard, collards, turnips, kale) represent paper money, and if you add cornbread, that’s your gold. Consuming these three foods on January 1st is believed to magically bring financial abundance to your household in the coming year, and who doesn’t want a little financial abundance?

Also, some folks say eating pork brings progress since pigs root forward, not backward. In the past, I’ve prepared pork spare ribs or barbecue, but this year, we are skipping those. Instead, I’ll add a lot of ham to the peas to cover this point.

If you want to ring in the new year properly, make some loud noise at midnight. Bang those pots and pans or set off fireworks—whatever it takes to scare away those pesky evil spirits. And don’t forget the midnight kiss! That’s supposed to secure love and goodwill for the year ahead.

My husband and I usually don’t go out on New Year’s Eve. Instead, we put on our pajamas and watch a movie or something, waiting for the ball to drop. When midnight comes, we toast the year with a small glass of wine and a kiss. And then we go straight to sleep, because it’s hard for us to stay up late now that we are older. On New Year’s Day, we’ll cook the peas Mom gave us, along with a big stock pot full of collards, just because that’s the only kind of greens I could find at the grocery store yesterday (we actually prefer mustard and turnips).

As for other folks, some people open their front door at midnight to welcome the new year in, then open the back door to let the old year out. Some people don’t clean or sweep on New Year’s Day itself, thinking they may sweep out all that fresh good luck they just invited in. And some don’t wash their clothes on January 1st either, because some believe you’ll wash away your luck or, worse, wash away a loved one. Yikes!

Some folks pay attention to their undergarments during the transition from one year to the next. Wearing yellow underwear is supposed to bring wealth, red brings love, green is for health, and white stands for peace. Pick your priority and dress accordingly.

Here’s another one: Some say to make sure your cupboards are full of continued from page

food, and your wallet has a wad of cash in it—abundance attracts abundance, they say. And if you’re hoping for travel in 2026, you may want to walk around the block with an empty suitcase. This exercise may help you book that dream vacation this year.

In Spain and Latin America, folks eat twelve grapes at midnight—one for each stroke of the clock—to ensure good luck for the next twelve months. And in Japan, they slurp long noodles for longevity.

W hether you believe in these traditions or not, they’re a fun way to start the year with a hopeful spirit. As for us? We’ll be watching football and eating bowls of collards and black-eyed peas, just like always. Can’t hurt, might help, and they sure are delicious.