We all know it's tradition to have black-eyed peas and cornbread on New Year's, but why? I looked up the tradition and here is the answer.

People eat black-eyed peas on New Year's to bring luck and prosperity in the new year.

Black-eyed peas started out as a crop raised to feed animals up until the Civil War. It then became a nourishing food for Confederate soldiers when Sherman's troops destroyed other food crops. Now, especially in the south, it is a staple on New Year's eve.

Along with eating black-eyed peas, another tradition is to have cabbage, or greens of some sort (turnip, mustard, collard or cabbage) which also brings good luck and prosperity.

Then there is your cornbread, I love black eyed peas and cornbread!

So here is what each food stands for: black eyed peas are coins, cabbage or greens are paper money and cornbread is gold.

Some people say you have to eat 1 pea for each day of the year, I've always been told as long as you eat 1 pea, it serves it's purpose. So those of you who don't like them at least eat 1 little bitty pea (they're tiny) so you have good luck.

Now I can't say any of this actually works seeing as I eat all three every year and still can't win the lottery; but I won't take any chances. I will be eating some collard greens along with my black eyed peas and cornbread on New Year's eve.

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