I guess y'all figured that I was Catholic from the name of the website. Well, I was also born in Virginia and lived here most of my life. So not only have I embraced my Catholic traditions, but also my southern ones. One of those traditions is to eat Black Eyed Peas on New Years Day.
Back in the days of civil war, Union troops swept through the south, confiscating crops and livestock to use as provisions for their troops. Southerners who weren't off fighting were left with very little, except for peas and greens. The Union soldiers considered "field peas" and greens, not good enough for human consumption, and only fed to livestock. Lucky for the Confederate soldiers, for they may have died of starvation. These dishes became cherished and appreciated recipes. There is a legend that during the Civil War, the town of Vicksburg, Virginia, ran out of food while under attack. The residents fortunately discovered black-eyed peas and the legume was thereafter considered lucky. So began the tradition of celebrating these dishes as the new year is born.
