I have never eaten black-eyed peas. Every New Year’s Day I eat sauerkraut and pork. I grew up believing it brought good luck in the coming year. I decided to do a little research to find out why.

Pigs move forward in rooting for food and since we are moving into a new year, it seems appropriate. The German settlers ate sauerkraut with their pork and since many Germans settled in Ohio their traditions have continued. I also read that cabbage counts as a green leafy vegetable that brings fortune in the new year.

In the South, black-eyes peas reign as the New Year’s meal for good fortune. One story is that the only food Union soldiers didn’t take during the Civil War was black-eyed peas. They thought it was food for the animals. To have the peas spared was indeed good fortune!

Grapes are also considered a food to bring good fortune and in Spain they are eaten as the clock strikes midnight. In addition, eating a green leafy vegetable brings good luck along with cornbread because it is yellow like gold. I never knew I had these food options to bring me good luck!

I will continue my family tradition and have pork and sauerkraut cooked with apples. That along with mashed potatoes and gravy will be delicious. The diet begins January 2, so I plan on enjoying my New Year’s meal! Happy New Year, everyone!