It seems that this southern tradition was a adopted from Sephardi Jews who settled in Georgia in the 1730s. Now, isn't that surprising!? It is "good luck" to have specific foods on your table for Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. One of the "lucky" foods is black-eyed peas. This tradition apparently has been "a southern thing" since around the Civil War.
Next year I'm going to have to remember to make up a batch of Hoppin' John and to count the number of peas in my serving, which will predict the amount of luck (or wealth) that I will have in the coming year. I also have to remember to leave three peas on my plate to assure that my New Year will be filled with luck, fortune, and romance.
Paula Deen, the quintessential southern cook, has a recipe for Hoppin' John that I think I'll have to try before January 1, 2013. It looks kind of yummy, doesn't it?
Yes, this is definitely a southern tradition!! One year I was a black eyed Pea for Halloween...Black your eye, wear a shirt with a P on it. I did it at BYU--no one really got it... again, its a southern thing :)
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