Black-eyed peas: The history of a humble good luck charm

Being a Southerner by birth, lineage and residency, I’ve eaten a lot of black-eyed peas over the past few days. 

Actually, I’ll partake in this humble food stuff, which is really a type of bean and not a pea, any time of year, but they are a staple for New Year’s celebrations, along with greens and cornbread. They allegedly bring good luck, and though I don’t really believe in that sort of thing, I’m not letting a Jan. 1 pass by without gobbling up as much as I can. 

Remember that board game Hungry, Hungry Hippos? The one where you make toy hippopotamuses eat marbles? That’s me on New Year’s Day. I always win. You didn’t finish yours? Dump ‘em on my plate. I’ll take all the help I can get for 2026. 

Black-eyed peas also ward off the evil eye, according to West African tradition, so just having them around the house is a good idea. That’s where the legume originated and is still a popular item for marking momentous events. They are served during the observances of both births and deaths, as well as any other special occasion families and friends deem fit to gather.

The vegetable made its way to the United States via the slave trade, where they were cultivated in the gardens of the captive people, who carried on their traditions. During the Civil War, black-eyed peas were left behind by the Union soldiers fighting across the South, and they began to be served on tables everywhere. The lore behind the food grew because folks considered themselves lucky just to have something to eat.

Some people say you have to eat exactly 365 black-eyed peas at New Year’s, one for each day on the calendar. I’ve never counted my servings so accurately and could be shorting myself a month or two. I don’t think eating more than the required amounts helps, either. There’s no rollover credit for 2027. You can also add a penny to the pot while cooking for added luck. Whoever finds the coin will be extra lucky in the new year. Unless they eat it, then they’ll possibly kick off January with a doctor bill. Hopefully they ate a lot of greens, too, you know, for the ensuing bill. 

It’s kind of like the baby in the king cake. Whoever finds the plastic toy while enjoying a slice of brightly colored dessert gets a boost of luck. That’s a good backup plan if you missed your black-eyed peas this year. Mardi Gras is right around the corner. 

Other food-related good luck charms: honey, because it brings sweetness to life; grapes and pomegranates, because they are round like coins; and long noodles, because the longer the noodle, the longer you’ll live. 

I don’t really believe in luck, but I think I’ll try to eat my way to prosperity in the coming days. 

Happy New Year.