The Black-Eyed Pea: From Lowly Cowpea to Center Stage

This is the story of how the black-eyed pea transformed from lowly cow fodder to good luck on New Year’s Day.

Gain Prosperity From Your Plate

Let’s set the scene from my growing up years.

It’s January 1st.

The frost on the windows indicates that it’s the prime time for warm, yummy, comfort foods.

On New Year’s Day this always meant sweet and simple things, like hot chocolate, fresh cookies, and ham.

But there’s one dish that sticks out to me, though, as I survey the table.

My dad says “you have to eat them on new year’s day for good luck” and offers me a spoonful.

Wow, ok. I don’t want to miss out on that goodness.

But now as an adult, I question, “How could a black-eyed pea bring me good luck?”.

Well, my friends, let’s delve into the history of how this simple food gained their respected status.

A History Lesson for the Black-Eyed Pea: from Lowly Cowpea to Center Stage

Hold onto your hats for this one; a black-eyed pea isn’t actually a pea!

Botanically, they are a bean, and while beans and peas are both legumes, there are many distinctions between the two.

This fun fact is only scratching the surface.

These peas gained their popularity and reputation during the Civil War.

Up until this point, black eyed peas were thought of as lowly and garbage chow, only fit to be eaten by animals.

That’s why their alternate name is the cowpea. However, everything changed when the Confederates lost all of their food sources. The only thing left was black-eyed peas and the soldiers survived off of them through the winter.

Thus their importance to the south and prestige for being considered “lucky.”

Present Prominence

Today, eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is carried on for two reasons: tradition and superstition.

In the same way that children are nice all year so Santa Claus won’t put coal in their Christmas stockings.

It’s a cultural custom that brings the fun of classic celebration to the hope of a prosperous year to come.

If you want to add this custom to your bag of holiday traditions, check out this recipe.