Black-eyed peas (home, buy, live in)

[TexasReb]

Being an affectionado of Texas/Southern culture, I am posting this on many of the Southern states' forums, to get some input, etc.. I apologize ahead of time for it being a bit long. But if you have a few minutes, you might enjoy it...and have some strong opinions one way or another!

It concerns the Southern tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day. When I first read the article (which is pasted below), I was taken aback and even, in a strange way, "insulted"...if that makes sense. Today, the regional affilation of Texas is often debated. However, when it comes to eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day, we are without question part of the "Solid South"! LOL

Ok...it starts here, with my own preface...*AHEM*

The story goes that the Southern custom of eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day is traceable to the wartime South when the yankee army plundered and pillaged thru Georgia and took and burned everything worth stealing and settin' afire. The noteable exception being some sort of legume previously considered worthless except for cow feed. With no choice, destitute Southern families had to turn to them for food...and found they were, in fact, mighty tasty! And? It being around the first of the year 1864, this discovery was considered to be an omen of "good luck"! From there, it became an established Southern tradition which spread west into Texas as a revered memory of what our ancestors went thru.

BUT...here is something else which was published several years disputing this legend....

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http://www.texasescapes.com/CFEckhar...d-Pea-Hoax.htm (broken link)

THE GREAT BLACKEYED PEA HOAX
by C. F. Eckhardt
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Moderator cut: copyright violation

Me again. LOL

As I recall, I first read of this was when someone wrote into the Dallas Morning News...for meanness it seemed. . And a LOT of folks wrote in to, in turn, insist THEY remembered eating them for "good luck" long before 1947. Some were really angry, suggesting that whoever concocted this heresy that it was a con-job was a damn yankee or worse! LOL

Personally, I don't know whether the whole thing began with a sharp East Texas feller, or that it truly IS something traceable to the wartime South. Like the old saying goes, when the truth comes up against the legend, always go with the legend. It is much more interesting! But at the same time, hey, if it really was nothing more than a hoax? Then the guy started a wonderful Southern tradition in its own right. Ain't nothing wrong with THAT!

Y'all...?

[SCBeaches]

Oh, well, all I know is they are "good eatin".....love my mom's black-eyed peacakes! Yum!

[badger74]

Not the same without Fergy. But I did buy some today for New Years.

[SCBeaches]

Here in Charleston, the traditional New Years Day dishes are Hoppin' John (blackeyed peas, rice, onions, and bacon/some kind of pork, doused with Texas Pete), collard greens, and corn bread....now that's what you call a Good Luck meal!

[ashbrn4]

Not sure of the history, but as a Texan (NE of Dallas) by birth, we always ate them for good luck on New Years Day. I'm in no way superstitious, but I do love Black-eyed peas with a little bacon. Fresh are even better.

[roanoker 4]

Although I live in Virginia, my mindset has never been in the southern tradition. I think with some people here that tradition of New Years Black Eyed Peas is still around. I visited a friends home one New Years and they served those awful tasting things!! The only thing about the southern national culture I have ever enjoyed is southern fried chicken. I am so glad more yankees are moving to this state, hopefully no more black eyed peas!!