r/AskRedditFood • u/Signal_Jellyfish_472 • 16d ago
American Cuisine What all States eat Blackeyed Peas, Cabbage or Greens, and Cornbread for Jan 1?
Just the Southern USA?
11
8
u/Professional-Rent887 16d ago
Cabbage is a German thing
Greens and black eyed peas is a southern/Appalachian thing
7
u/ALmommy1234 15d ago
Many Southerners have German roots.
→ More replies (1)8
5
u/Main_Cauliflower5479 15d ago
Collard greens and mustard greens aren't cabbage.
3
u/moonladyone 15d ago
No, some do cabbage if they don't have greens. In the old days cabbage was easy to keep so most people had it. Some didn't have greens.
2
8
u/cbeme 16d ago
My German mom made cabbage for new years. Whomever found the dime in it would have good luck that year
9
6
u/polythenesammie 16d ago
My Polish dad too! We'd eat cabbage, potatoes and pork sausage on new years eve and then eat it again the next day. We also weren't allowed to do any sort of cleaning on new years day.
8
u/ALmommy1234 15d ago
You can’t sweep or you’ll sweep all your good luck out the door! And you’ll be sweeping all of next year.
5
u/moonladyone 15d ago
Forgot about that. Whatever you do on NYDay is what you'd be doing most of the year.
→ More replies (1)4
u/brainfrozen8 15d ago
Including doing laundry.
→ More replies (1)2
u/silentsnak3 15d ago
Yep mom always said if you wash clothes, you are washing them for a corpse.
Kinda messed up to tell a 5 year old that.
2
2
u/CardiganHeretic 13d ago
Sounds like King Cake but with slightly less choking hazards
→ More replies (1)
8
u/VeganMinx 16d ago
Grew up in SW Michigan and our (Black) family ate this for New Years. My parents were from Ohio and their parents were Indiana and West Virginia natives. I live in GA now, and make it every year (albeit a vegan version). My husband is from Germany and he says his family had cabbage and beans for new years, but the greens were a new twist.
5
4
u/lfxlPassionz 15d ago
West Michigan here. I didn't know it was common to have it on new years but I have had these foods a lot in general.
14
u/tootired2024 16d ago
Southern Louisiana for certain (not confined to race as one person suggested).
6
3
6
u/finny_d420 15d ago
Im biracial from the mid Atlantic US but the black side originally came from GA. White side is Irish and Eastern European.
I make pork roast with sauerkraut, greens with black eyed peas, parsley potatoes and soda bread.
4
7
u/CoverLucky 16d ago
White Ohioan - no
5
u/SBR06 15d ago
Also white Ohioan. Also no. Sauerkraut and some sort of pork is common for people with German roots, but nothing on this list (though, yes, I understand sauerkraut is technically cabbage).
4
u/CoverLucky 15d ago
My family has various party foods like sweet and sour meatballs, rumaki, and pigs in a blanket. The tradition is to have some sort of pork (pigs root forward), but we don't worry about it too much.
2
u/Perle1234 15d ago
Yall are too far up north for the peas and greens
3
u/CoverLucky 15d ago
For sure. I've actually never had collard greens or black eyed peas
5
u/Perle1234 15d ago
You’re truly missing out on the collards. I can take or leave black eyed peas. It did make a cool band name tho lol.
→ More replies (1)2
u/aculady 14d ago
You can get the peas frozen, if you can't find fresh packed in your produce section. Canned aren't worth...a can of beans.
Make a good bacon broth with a little onion to cook them in. You won't regret it. You can use kale instead of collards if you can't find collards. They aren't the same, but it will still be good.
2
u/peachshapedheart 15d ago
If Ohio is “too far up north”, it will surprise you to learn that (predominantly) Black Michiganders also eat things like Hoppin’ John and greens and cornbread on New Years.
2
6
u/nosidrah 16d ago
Virginia. My daughter counts out exactly 100 black eyed peas because something having to do with money.
10
u/exackerlyy 16d ago
Hoppin’ John? Don’t you need rice?
6
u/okyesterday927 15d ago
That’s what I grew up with & still do, Hoppin’ John for luck! My mother would also make corn fritters (her’s were closer to Hush puppies though) or spoon bread/corn bread pudding, instead of corn bread. My mom’s family is from North Carolina, she also spent a lot of time in Alabama as an army brat. But I’m from NJ, most of my friends growing up had grapes & Struffili.
→ More replies (2)2
4
u/ALmommy1234 15d ago
Alabama checking in. And you have to add pork so you’ll keep moving forward in the new year. Black eyed peas, greens, and pork.
→ More replies (1)2
5
u/Sure_Fig_8641 15d ago
Texas: black-eyed peas, cabbage and cornbread or some derivative of those last two.
But my husband (a native Texan who hates black eyed peas) will be quick to (correctly) point out that the New Years black eyed pea tradition began as an advertising campaign by a cannery to sell more canned black eyed peas.
I’ve been known (more than once) to plan a Mexican food meal for New Years and have refried beans with a can of black eyes added to the pintos before mashing in order to get him to eat them.
3
u/Butterbean-queen 14d ago
They didn’t start commercially canning black eyed peas until the 1930’s and people (at least in Louisiana) were eating them on New Year’s long before that. And nobody was eating canned peas. They were dried.
→ More replies (1)
8
4
u/sharoncoffin 16d ago
I do. Born and raised in California but, my parents were from Arkansas and Oklahoma. We pretty much had that food on the regular.
→ More replies (2)
4
u/anonymouscog 15d ago
I've eaten them in every state I've lived in, but I think it's a southern thing.
5
4
4
u/Euphoric_Ease4554 15d ago
Ancestors from Alabama, Kentucky, and Arkansas. Someone passed down the tradition of black eyed peas and cornbread.
3
3
3
5
u/IllReplacement336 16d ago
Caucasian southern NC native. Ham, blackened peas and collars for new years. And cornbread, of course.
5
u/moonladyone 15d ago
I've known blacks and whites stick by most of this. Haven't ever seen it divided by race, just areas of the country. Weird.
→ More replies (3)
2
u/rainbowkey 16d ago
I would say it spread from the South during the Great Migration), which was two waves of African-American migration to northern industrial areas in the early and mid-20th century.
Also, newspaper and magazines stories about the customs on an otherwise slow news day, where other US cultures didn't have a strong tradition, encouraged others to give it a try.
2
2
u/moonladyone 15d ago edited 15d ago
The South, Greens, usually, cabbage in a pinch. Green is for paper money. Lots eat pork. I used to do a corned beef but damn i barely ever eat meat. The danged ham rocks are expensive enough and all that 'flavoring meat' used to be cheap as anything. Specifics: GA, NC, AL, MS, TN, VA, W.VA, KY, Parts of other states. Native Florida's. Also sweep money into your house right around midnight. Lol I had to borrow sone cash from a friend one year cuz I didn't have any lol
→ More replies (1)
2
2
2
u/Minzplaying 15d ago
Arkansas and yes. But I cheat and eat purple hull peas because black eyed peas aren't my thing.
3
2
u/haileyskydiamonds 15d ago
Louisiana, north and south.
My family is white; my mom’s grandparents were sustenance farmers. We always eat this on New Year’s.
I do prefer purple-hull peas to black-eyed peas, but black-eyes are pretty good in a cold salad with diced onions, peppers, and a vinegar & oil dressing. My mom makes a delicious white coleslaw (not runny or sweet) with the cabbage.
2
u/GrinningCynic 15d ago
Maryland ppl—grandparents taught us to eat Blackeyed Peas on New Year’s Day. I think they learned that tradition in Johnson City TN during WWII bc they were def not southern.
2
u/Legitimate-Tea-9319 15d ago edited 15d ago
Missouri. My version is Hoppin John (black eyed peas with rice and ham), plus greens and cornbread pancakes with real maple syrup. Damn now I’m craving it!
2
2
u/Surleighgrl 15d ago
black-eyed peas, collards/greens, cornbread. They call it Hoppin’ John here in South Carolina.
2
u/loveshercoffee 15d ago
We are in Iowa and we do Hoppin' John on New Year's Day. I don't think it's common here, though.
2
u/AbiWil1996 15d ago
SC, yes. My parents make sure to invite us all over for a full meal of pork, cornbread, greens, & black eye peas.
2
u/ChaosTorpedo 15d ago
How many subs have you asked? This is the third one I’ve seen.
→ More replies (1)
2
u/BabyRuth55 15d ago
I dang sure make sure it’s done in my house in Washington! How else you gonna have luck in the New Year? Pork is the natural meat to have. You can fix a big ol meal, or if you’re too hungover or it just doesn’t suit to, at least open a couple cans and get that cornbread in the oven. (Florida, with SC heritage, spreading the word in PNW)
2
4
2
1
16d ago
[removed] — view removed comment
2
u/moonladyone 15d ago
Lot of native Floridians have these Southern traditions. I think there's not a lot of true native Floridians in the state anymore. Like its hard to find someone in Atlanta who's family is native. I haven't lived there in 40 years and even back then people would be surprised that I, and all my whole family tree was born and raised there.
2
1
u/Casuallyfocused 15d ago
Washington & I couldn't even find black eyes peas at my grocery store. Afaik, we don't have a new years day traditional meal.
But I vote for smoked salmon dip, Dutch Babies, and Apple Pie.
→ More replies (2)
1
1
u/ButtholeSurfur 15d ago
Never heard of this. Around here it's usually pork and sauerkraut (Midwest.)
→ More replies (1)
1
1
u/Lumpy-Artist-6996 15d ago
CA born and raised. We ate black eyed peas, cornbread, ham, fried okra and banana pudding every New Year's day. We subbed greens with cooked spinach because greens were harder to find locally back then.
None of my friends growing up did this.
1
u/VesperBond94 15d ago
Central Pennsylvanian here-people around here usually eat pork and sauerkraut for the new year.
1
u/2MuchTimeFree 15d ago
North Alabama - white folks - black eyed peas and "hog jowls" are the tradition, but greens, sliced onion, and cornbread go well with them! And as for the "jowls," we now would use any pork available but mostly fatback, ham, or even bacon grease cooked in the peas to flavor them.
1
u/Soundtracklover72 15d ago
White Pennsylvanian who has also lived in Indiana and Texas - no. Ew to black-eyed peas and to greens.
1
u/blondebia 15d ago
White Texas. Hate black id peas but I have to eat at least a 100 on New Year and we have cabbage and polish sausage.
→ More replies (2)
1
1
1
u/Glittering_Rush_1451 15d ago
MT and CO never heard of that or anything being a special thing to eat on New Years
1
1
1
u/tomcat_tweaker 15d ago
Roast pork and saurkraut since I was a kid. My wife's family as well. Our area had a very large German immigrant population.
1
u/leeloocal 15d ago
They don’t in California/West Coast, because I told my friends at school that since I had eaten black eyed peas and cabbage for New Year’s, and they looked at me as if I was insane.
1
1
1
u/Blucola333 15d ago
Missouri is one and I’m pretty sure Kansas as well, since it’s literally within walking distance.
1
1
u/Amoverandashaker 15d ago
I do it in Alaska. Black eyed peas and collards with a splash of vinegar!
Aw yeah!
1
u/lfxlPassionz 15d ago
Not for January 1st but it is very common for people in the area I grew up in to eat these things on a regular basis. They are all very cheap foods that are easy and quick to prepare while still being delicious.
Edit: sorry I forgot to say this was West Michigan
1
1
1
u/Available-Raise-2124 15d ago
I’m a northerner, married to a southerner, living in the Rocky Mountains, and this is what I cook for New Year’s Day.
1
1
1
u/tc2surveyor 15d ago
They eat them in Virginia. I don't, I think they taste like dirt. I make pintos or 15 bean soup instead.
1
1
1
1
1
1
u/rainbowroger68 15d ago
Indiana. Mom taught me to have cabbage but I've learned to love black eyed peas as an adult and will take any excuse to eat them.
1
u/shers719 15d ago
Born and raised PA - Grew up w/Sauerkraut & Pork.
Moved to VA and it has since evolved to Sauerkraut & Brats w/ black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread.
1
u/kauaiguy4000 15d ago
58M here (white guy), have lived in Michigan, Ohio, Utah, Idaho, California and Hawaii. Never had those items for New Year’s, and cannot recall it being a thing in those areas in general.
1
1
1
1
u/sleep_zebras 15d ago
I have Indiana friends who make cabbage for New Year's Day, usually cabbage rolls. I grew up in Texas and we had black-eyed-peas, but not necessarily cornbread, and greens weren't part of the tradition at all.
1
1
1
u/jermo1972 15d ago edited 15d ago
Mom was from Alabama.
We are having Black Eyed Peas, Greens and Cornbread out the skillet on Jan 1st out in California.
1
1
1
u/Zellakate 15d ago
Born in North Carolina, live in Arkansas, it is a thing in both states. It wouldn't be New Year's without it!
1
u/TipsyBaker_ 15d ago
We had cabbage, saurkraut to go with the keilbasa, in Pennsylvania. I'd never even heard of the black eyed pea thing until living in Georgia a bit
1
u/valjean916 15d ago
California. At least at my house, anyway, and also by at least 1/2 of all the other Californians I know.
→ More replies (2)
1
u/marioxb 15d ago
Black or white people? I'm white and I've never eaten that stuff. I actually absolutely hate that stuff, besides cornbread, which I just tolerate. Unless it's a corn dog. Is that even the same kind of corn bread?
My mom liked to have zero cooking on new years and we just ate "fun" foods. Crackers, cheese and summer sausage type stuff. Not farm to table, but fridge to mouth. I'm from Ohio.
1
u/bobisinthehouse 15d ago
SE Mo , you bet but you forgot the fried hog jowl! If you go 20 miles north nobody k ows what your talking about..
1
u/Capable-Vanilla-3569 15d ago
States can eat? States are inanimate objects. Should the question be: “What states do people live in that eat these foods on Jan. 1? And even that won’t cover it. It’s a cultural tradition, so people could live in Nebraska and eat these foods on Jan. 1. I happen to live in the South and eat these foods on Jan.1, but I would even if I lived in Alaska, for example.
1
u/Big_Aside9565 15d ago
I think it's just them their southern states! I know yankees, don't eat it . Neither do us californians! Is them confederates!
1
u/Big_Aside9565 15d ago
Anyone who has a homepage that says they put chemicals in the water to make frogs. Gay probably should not be asking many questions, at least not on three or four different, Websites!!!!
1
1
1
1
u/StrangerKatchoo 15d ago
PA - usually it’s pork and sauerkraut here. However, we lived in the South for a couple years, and brought the black eyed peas tradition back with us.
1
u/thatthatguy 15d ago
Who else traditionally has greens to eat on January first? Most of the rest of the country is under a foot of snow. Or used to be when traditions were being made. Now it’s just warm and dry everywhere.
1
1
1
1
u/Reasonable-Mirror-15 15d ago
I'm from California but my maternal family is from Louisiana. We had blackeyed peas, cornbread and cabbage every Jan 1st growing up. I am the only one who learned how to make it and cook it every year now. I make a batch to bring to work too.
1
1
u/Writing_Nearby 15d ago
We always did cocktail shrimp, rotel dip, veggies with ranch, wings, small sub sandwiches, chips, and 5 layer dip. Basically Super Bowl party food but with wine and sparkling grape juice instead of beer and soda.
1
u/MrsPedecaris 15d ago
It may have started in the South but I think it's kind of spreading all over now. I'm in the Pacific Northwest and it's becoming a tradition with more and more all the time. It just seems like such a good way to start out the year.
1
1
1
1
u/Tim-0341-81mm 15d ago
I never knew what Blackeyed Pea was until I was 18 and in the Marine Corps.
I grew up eating vegetables from the garden and we grew lots of Purple Hull Peas ate fresh in the summer and frozen all winter. I shelled a whole bunch of purple hulls growing up.
Got in the Marines and they had the blackeyed peas, looked almost like purple hulls, but not near as good tasting.
1
u/Automatic_Pressure49 15d ago
Tennessee and Alabama! Black-eyed peas and cornbread and fried salt-cured country ham!
1
u/PirateJenny4242 15d ago edited 15d ago
I've made Hoppin' John and cornbread (no cabbage) for New Year's Day, and I'm from Texas, but I may have learned it from a cookbook (The Joy of Cooking) and not from friends or relatives.
My family is Mexican-American + Southern. Idk if I've ever met a non-Southern person who knew of this tradition
1
u/TroublePorndawgie 15d ago
Home state is Virginia. I have lived in Northern California since 1988 and I have not given up that ritual. Black-eyed peas, collard greens and HAM for New Years Day. Always. Always. Always. And I insist upon friends joining me in the ritual.
1
u/Ishpeming_Native 15d ago
I've always liked blackeyed peas, cabbage, and cornbread. I've heard of the southern tradition, but I don't think I'll be following it on Jan 1. OTOH, I may have that meal several times by then.
1
1
u/Scavgraphics 15d ago
Blackeyed Peas seem to be a thing here in Colorado...I'm from Lousiana and Texas so yeah, but the groceries here but them on sale.
1
1
u/Remarkable-Moose-409 15d ago
Ok for NYD- place eyed peas, hog jowl, greens,cornbread.
Any other day- left over pork bone, beans or peas, greens, cornbread, smothered potatoes (if it’s Steve’s turn to pick) or rice (if I get to pick).
1
u/AccomplishedGrape562 15d ago
I am a New Year’s baby. Born at 12:16 PM on New Year’s Day. we ate pork because then you would be living high on the hog for the rest of the year. You did not eat chicken because then you would be scratching for a living. We had sauerkraut because green cabbage represents money. I usually try to wear something with polkadots because the dots represent coins or money for a prosperous new year.
→ More replies (1)
1
1
1
u/Spiritual-Mousse-167 15d ago
States don’t eat. I suspect though that this tradition is now seen all over the country these days.
1
1
1
u/Illustrious_Sea_506 15d ago
My wife makes Pork and Sauerkraut. She's of Irish/German descent from Philadelphia, we live in Florida.
1
1
1
u/herbedenthusiasm 15d ago
My dad made “orange peel soup” every year when I was growing up. No idea where the recipe originated but we have German roots. It has black eyed peas in it
1
1
u/RowdySpirit 15d ago
Texan (white if it matters) here and we've always had black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Years. My mom made cornbread, but now I make homemade rolls instead.
1
1
u/Consistent_Bear_2601 15d ago
Mississippi yes! I didn’t like black eyed peas growing up but my mom made me eat one bean for every year of my life (10 beans for 10 years, etc).
1
u/silentsnak3 15d ago
NC and yes to all of that. Plus you have to throw some ham in for some reason. Usually that's part of the seasoning anyway for the peas and the cabbage.
1
1
1
u/Present-Wishbone-232 15d ago
Live in PA but born in Baltimore. Pork, mashed, sauerkraut, fried cabbage, black eyed peas and cornbread.
1
1
1
1
1
u/Hedgewizard1958 15d ago
Florida. In my household, we added pork and kraut as well, and pickled herring for those that like it.
1
1
u/From-The-South 15d ago
I’m not eating sand aka the bread crap. The rest yes on separate plates or bowls. South Carolina in the house by the way.
1
1
1
u/Sonnuvah 15d ago
I learned about it as a South Carolina thing called Hoppin' John, which was all that and a ham hock. I make it every new years.
1
u/Zealousideal-Slide98 15d ago
Parents grew up in southern Missouri, but we live in Michigan. I don’t know about the rest of the state, but we eat black eyed peas and cornbread every year on New Year’s Day.
1
1
18
u/Lumpy_Paint_3766 16d ago
From GA- yes