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The history of black-eyed peas on New Years Day

Anyone who as grown up in the south has heard that eating black-eyed peas on New Years Day is lucky, but how many people know the origins of this tradition.
According to Wikipedia, the oldest theory for this tradition dates back to ancient Egypt during the time of the Pharaohs. It was believed eating a meager food like blacked-eyed peas showed humility towards the gods. In addition, around 339 CE the Babylonian Talmud tells Jews to eat black-eyed peas during Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year.
In modern times, the tradition dates back to the Civil War. According to legend, when Union troops raided Confederate food supplies the only thing they left behind were black-eyed peas and salt pork. Confederates considered themselves lucky to survive the winter with just the peas and salt pork, so they became a symbol of luck.
Black-eyed peas were also eaten by slaves. According to tradition, they were eaten by the slaves on January 1, 1863, the day the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect, because that was all they had to eat. From that day forward, peas were always eaten on Jan. 1.
There are also several traditions on how to cook the peas, some say put a new penny or dime in the pot before cooking, and the one who gets the coin will be extra lucky. It is also said by some that you should eat 365 peas on New Years Day.
The peas are usually cooked with hog jowls and served with cabbage or greens and corn bread. Some say the peas represent coins, the greens paper money, and cornbread, gold. Some say if you do not eat all the food together, the good luck will not stick.