In my last column, I reprinted an article extolling the virtues of black-eyed peas and expressed my love for them. I always try to eat some to start each new year out right.
I really prefer cooking the dry black-eyed peas but I had none, so I’d set out a can of blackeyed peas and planned to add that to the Jan. 1 menu. However, I attended our quilt class gathering that afternoon at Cleta Whitman’s lovely home and our instructor, my good friend Lou Romine, brought a big pot of the tasty morsels, cooked and seasoned just right. I wasn’t bashful. I ate two hefty portions. Yum! Yum!
Somewhere I’ve read that for each pea you eat you will have a day of good luck in the new year, so I reckon you’d have to eat 365 peas if you want to be lucky all year long. Others tell me they’ve never heard of that. And one fellow even said he’d been told that there was nothing to that tale about bringing good luck anyway; it was just something someone invented to sell more peas. But I’m not taking any chances!
There are other superstitions about “lucky” foods to be eaten to begin the new year. Cookbook author Suzanne Huntley told of a man she knew who would not think of letting New Year’s Day pass without eating a doughnut. He was of Dutch descent and the Dutch think doughnuts and apple fritters eaten on New Year’s Day will ensure good fortune for therest of the year. So why tempt fate?
Many nationalities believe that anything in the form of a ring is lucky since it symbolizes completion of the year’s cycle. Black-eyed peas, in our section of the country, are combined with hog jowl; but in other areas they are mixed with rice (and sometimes other vegetables, such as onions, carrots, okra or tomato sauce) and the dish becomes Hoppin’ John. The black-eyed peas, though, are the important ingredient. Turkey is served in New Orleans at a feast rivaling Thanksgiving, and ham is traditional to many nationalities. Cabbage is highly regarded as lucky by German and Swedish people and some believe they can insure a yearlong supply of greenbacks by cooking and servingcollard greens and cabbage. Salmon is the lucky dish of the Northwest.
Ozark writer Fred Starr revealed in his book, “Climb The Highest Mountain,” that the hillman always “kept his weathereye open” on the first day of the year. He believed that the first twelve days of January set the pattern for the entire year weather-wise. New Year’s for January, the second of January for February and so on through the calendar. “There was nothing in the almanac about such,” he said, “but his pa and ma said ‘twas so and that was proof aplenty.”
Journalist Ernie Deane reported that some of his Ozark neighbors starting counting the twelve daysthat would represent each of the succeeding months with Jan. 6. Some folks hold to the theory that however many days the first snow remains on the ground is how many snows there’ll be during the winter. The moon has a key role in a lot of weather prophesying in the Ozarks. However many days old the moon is at first snowfall tells how many snows we’ll get this winter, according to some forecasters. Fur that’s thicker than usual on rabbits, squirrels, coons and other wild animals has always been considered a sure sign that the coming winter will be colder than usual. After all, Mother Nature usually knows what she’s doing and manages to provide pretty well for all the wild critters.
“Homespun Hannah” once wrote in her column in “Country World,” themonthly magazine of the Tulsa World, that “starting a New Year is a reminder of the power that is within us to meet the experiences of life with a spirit filled with faith and courage.” She wished all friends and loved ones good health, inner peace and success in their affairs in the coming year and said, “We’ve made many New Year’s resolutions but find it is much easier to have our goals for shorter periods and make each day count toward our hopes and dreams.” And that seems to be one of the most worthwhile resolutions we could make - to make each day count toward making our lives, our community, our world a little better. What do you say we all try it and see what happens?
Susan Holland is longtime resident of Benton County and a staff member of the Westside Eagle Observer. She may be contacted by e-mail at [email protected].
Opinion, Pages 8 on 01/12/2011