New Year Traditions Black Eyed Peas

Another legend holds that slaves ate black eyed peas on january 1 1863 the day the emancipation proclamation went into effect because they were all they had.
New year traditions black eyed peas. But the tradition of eating black eyed peas with rice is african in origin and spread throughout the south especially in the carolinas in the form of pilaus or rice dishes simmered for a long time with chicken or shrimp. Some add to their luck by cooking their pot of peas with a penny or dime inside. This according to the story is why black eyed peas have been eaten on every new year s day since.
There s evidence that people ate black eyed peas for luck as early as 500 a d. Eating black eyed peas on new year s day has been considered good luck for at least 1 500 years. According to a portion of the talmud written around 500 a d it was jewish custom at the time to eat black eyed peas in celebration of rosh hashanah the jewish new year which occurs in the fall.