Fresh Start with Time-Honored Traditions

Here in the south, it’s a time-honored tradition to eat black eyed peas, turnip greens, cabbage, corned beef and cornbread on New Year’s Day. The black-eyed peas are considered a symbol of good luck; the cabbage, like the turnip greens and cornbread, are considered symbols of money and wealth.

Many believe that other traditions or “superstitions” associated with activities on New Year’s Day set the pattern for the year to come. Here are a few of the most common:

· Kissing at midnight ensures affections and ties will continue throughout the year. Failing to kiss our loved ones at 12 a.m. sharp sets the stage for a long, “cold” year.

· The New Year must not be brought in with empty shelves and pantries. It should not be begun with the household in debt; personal debts should be settled and checks written and mailed prior to Jan. 1. Do not pay back loans or lend money on New Year’s Day, or you’ll be paying out all year.

· Nothing, not even garbage, is to leave the house on the first day of the year. Don’t so much as shake out a rug!
· Make sure to work or do a little something related to your work on Jan. 1. However, it is unlucky to engage in a serious work project on that day.

· Do not do laundry on New Year’s Day, lest a member of the family be “washed away” in the upcoming months.
· Wear something new on Jan. 1 to increase the likelihood of your receiving more new garments during the year.
· Avoid breaking things, lest wreckage be part of your year.

· Avoid crying on the first day, lest that activity set the tone for the next year.

· At midnight, all the doors of a house must be opened to let the old year escape.

· Make as much noise as possible at midnight. You’re not just celebrating, you’re scaring away “evil spirits,” so do a good job of it!

· Examine the weather in the early hours of New Year’s Day. If wind blows from the south, fine weather and prosperous times ahead; from the north, a year of bad weather. East wind brings famine and calamities. Strangest of all, if the wind blows from the west, the year will not only witness plentiful supplies of milk and fish, but will also see the death of a very important person. If no wind at all, a joyful and prosperous year may be expected by all.

Black Eyed Peas
3 ½ cups canned or frozen (and thawed) black-eyed peas, thawed
3 cups chicken stock or canned low-salt broth
4 oz finely chopped ham
1 cup onion, chopped
2 Tbsp. balsamic or red wine vinegar
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
½ tsp. thyme
¼ tsp. (more to taste) crushed red pepper
Pepper to taste

Bring all ingredients to boil in heavy large saucepan. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until peas are tender, about 45 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.



Collard Greens with Ham Hocks
4 bunches fresh collard greens, cleaned and steamed
5 slices of bacon
1 smoked ham hock
2 med. onions, chopped
4-6 cloves garlic, minced
1 bunch of green onions (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
7 cups of water
(If collard leaves are large, cut in half after lightly steaming.)

Cook bacon in large pot, rendering as much fat as possible. Add water to pot and bring to boil. Add ham hock, chopped onion, salt and pepper to taste. Let mixture boil for 10 minutes. Add collard greens, bring to boil. Reduce heat; let simmer a couple hours or longer, until tender and most of water is cooked away.
May each of you be blessed with a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year!

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