<P> In the Southern United States , eating black - eyed peas or Hoppin ' John ( a traditional soul food ) on New Year 's Day is thought to bring prosperity in the new year . The peas are typically cooked with a pork product for flavoring ( such as bacon , fatback , ham bones , or hog jowls ) and diced onion , and served with a hot chili sauce or a pepper - flavored vinegar . The traditional meal also includes collard , turnip , or mustard greens , and ham . The peas , since they swell when cooked , symbolize prosperity ; the greens symbolize money ; the pork , because pigs root forward when foraging , represents positive motion . Cornbread , which represents gold , also often accompanies this meal . </P>
<P> In the Southern United States , eating black - eyed peas or Hoppin ' John ( a traditional soul food ) on New Year 's Day is thought to bring prosperity in the new year . The peas are typically cooked with a pork product for flavoring ( such as bacon , fatback , ham bones , or hog jowls ) and diced onion , and served with a hot chili sauce or a pepper - flavored vinegar . The traditional meal also includes collard , turnip , or mustard greens , and ham . The peas , since they swell when cooked , symbolize prosperity ; the greens symbolize money ; the pork , because pigs root forward when foraging , represents positive motion . Cornbread , which represents gold , also often accompanies this meal . </P>
when do you eat black eyed peas for the new year
when do you eat black eyed peas for the new year
New Year 's Day
New Year 's Day