General information about Item:

• Customary folklore; Food folklore; Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of origin: United States
• Informant: Jennifer Dye
• Date collected: May 24, 2020

Informant data:

Jennifer Dye is a longtime resident of Virginia Beach, VA. She is a local leader in the community and enjoys Southern cooking and culture.

Contextual data:

• Cultural context: Southern cooking is one of the cornerstones of Southern culture. There is mystery surrounding the origins and exact practices of eating the peas, but their serving as a harbinger of good luck is universally recognized in the South.
• Social context: JD sent context about the tradition and a recipe for Hoppin’ John, a traditional Southern soul food comprised largely of black-eyed peas and typically eaten on New Year’s Day.

Item:

Eat black eyed peas on New Year’s Day to bring good luck into the new year.

Transcript:

[Text message]: “I’m sorry I meant to talk to you about this last night! I don’t know all the details except that you are supposed to eat black eyed peas to bring good luck in the new year. There is more to it where all the children are supposed to hop around the table (hopping John). I think counter clockwise but that might be wrong. You know we always eat our black eyed peas-at least one bite!!! [Sent link: https://premeditatedleftovers.com/recipes-cooking-tips/new-years-day-recipe-hoppin-john/]”

Collector’s comments:

There appears to be much variation in the actual eating and practice/performance of the Black Eyed Pea/Hoppin’ John tradition. Some only eat the beans, some eat the full Hoppin’ John dish, and some eat the full dish and perform a hopping dance around the table.

Collector’s name: Jack Jacobs

Tags/Keywords:

-Customary folklore

-Superstition

-Food