If you follow New Year traditions, a Southern meal on New Year’s Day might include collard greens, black-eyed peas, pork and cornbread. Northerners might serve peas, pork, rice and beans.
Symbolism:
- Prosperity and Peace: Pork (ham, bacon, ribs)
- Good Health: Greens
- Good Fortune: Peas, legumes
- Good Luck: Round Cakes (Doughnut/Bundt Cakes)
Other cultures serve traditional dishes on New Year’s Day such as cabbage, grapes, noodles, rice, sauerkraut.
My mother believed that we’d never go hungry during the year if we ate heartily on the first day of the new year. The family would follow the traditional menu of a big breakfast of bacon, sausage, ham and eggs. The main meal included loin of pork, peas, and rice. We were never hungry on New Year’s Day.
It’s a small world and regardless of cultural differences and New Year Day superstitions, the best way to kick off the new year is on a positive note: Set positive goals and be willing to make adjustments when things don’t turn out the way expected.
Wishing you a Happy New Year
Visit New Year’s Foods on Wikipedia to learn of diverse traditions.
How are you observing the beginning of 2022?
