Eating Collards and Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day Paid Off!Eating Collards and Black Eyed Peas on New Year's Day

Being a Tarheel born and bred Southern girl, I had always heard the superstition that eating collards and black-eyed peas on New Year's Day would bring good luck and prosperity throughout the New Year.  Well, who couldn't use a little of that?  Only problem was, the thought of eating collard greens was enough to make me gag - I could eat the black-eyed peas, but if I had to eat collard greens for financial prosperity, then I guess I was going to be doomed to the poor house!

That is, until a few years ago.  In one of the South Charlotte NC Harris Teeter grocery stores, I saw hordes of people buying what looked like those clumps of weeds that grow along a creekside.  I had to ask..."What in the heck are you buying?"  "Collards!" they responded, they'll bring you prosperity if you eat them on New Year's Day!"  One nice lady proceeded to tell me the best way to prepare them.  So....I bought in, and bought a clump.

My husband wasn't particularly thrilled.  He asked "Is that poison ivy?  Sumac?"  I told him that our family was going to be prosperous in the New Year if we all ate them - he laughed and muttered something under his breath about Southerners. After HOURS of cooking (tenderizing), seasoning and adding broth to  the doggone things, we were ready to try them.  My kids turned up their noses and refused to try them, but I insisted through gritted teeth that "We ARE going to EAT these or else!  I think each child ate one leaf and one pea.  My husband said they weren't bad, and I actually thought they were pretty good!

2010 turned out to be one of my best years ever in real estate, and 2011 was even better.  I wasn't going to let a few collards stand in my way of another record year ;-)

So on New Year's Day 2012, my family and I gathered around the table.  Amidst eye rolls and sarcastic remarks, we managed to choke them down.  My in-laws  dined with us, and they were good sports about joining in this silly superstition.

Then GUESS WHAT!!!  The VERY NEXT DAY....January 2, 2012, I RECEIVED AN OFFER on a listing that has only been on the market for 27 days!  "Must have been those collards," my husband chided.  Or my incredible work ethic, I argued!

Heck, I'll eat collards every week if I get these kinds of results!  I would even eat those weeds down by the creekside!  You see, I'm a South Charlotte NC Realtor, and I go the extra nine yards for my clients!  I do WHATEVER it takes to get their Charlotte home SOLD!

Check out my website to learn about South Charlotte NC homes for sale, and to get buyer and seller tips!  I'd love to help you buy or sell your next South Charlotte home!  Call and we'll chat about what you want to accomplish in your next move.

Click here to search for homes for sale in South Charlotte NC

 

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Melissa Brown

REALTOR/Broker, NC & SC

704-654-9700

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Melissa Brown, Realtor, Charlotte, NC

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40 Comments on Eating Collards and Black-Eyed Peas on New Year's Day Paid Off!

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JAN
05
2012
683,619 Points 107 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Gotta love the South!  My family always chokes down enjoys Beans & Greens for New Year's.... in fact, we always place a Silver Dollar in the Beans as our family tradition! Running a little late this year as much of the family was out of town.  I expect my good luck & fortune this Sunday after our Southern Beans & Greens.  I'll let you know what good fortune lands in my lap!  Happy New Year!
6:52am • #21
555,746 Points 148 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Too funny, Melissa.  Thankfully, our superstition is steamed shrimp.  I gladly eat those at midnight on December 31/January 1.  Ironically, I received a call from the bank accepting a short sale yesterday.  So, no collard greens up here in VA, but whatever works, right?  Have the best year yet!
6:52am • #22
Hit Router Attended Rain Camp

Ooops. I had good intentions, but it didn't happen.  I hope light brown kidney beans will do the trick.

 

Happy NEW Year and congratulations on your upcoming success'.

 
6:54am • #23
1,100,762 Points 52 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

You are what you eat.
7:16am • #24
975,855 Points 6 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I was looking for your collard recipe. My friends said it was black eyed peas and salad so the Southern MD version took a detour!
7:48am • #25
300,008 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

No wonder I saw so many ads for black eyed peas recently. It's a New Years tradition. Frankly, I'll stick to lobster tail on New Year's Eve for prosperity.
8:27am • #26
731,668 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Melissa, I've heard of this tradition before. Glad to hear it your year is starting off so good.
8:35am • #27
160,855 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Well, this is one New Year's tradition I'm not aware of (being from the north!).  I've seen Collard Greens in my grocery store, so next year I'm going to have to try this one.  Thanks for the tip!
9:26am • #28
645,006 Points 111 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Being a bred Southern girl, I am very surprised to hear that you didn't eat greens.  Greens happen to be my  all time favorite vegetable.  As a kid my mother use to say that I didn't eat greens, I just swolled them whole.  To this day, I love me some collard greens.
9:33am • #29
488,382 Points 4 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Whatever works, and if that means eating some collard greens to put yourself in the right mindset, It's all very much worth it.
9:35am • #30
135,124 Points 2 Featured Posts

Born and raised Southern girl too and I'm just now establishing a love for collard greens. When cooked right (i.e. LOTS of bacon grease) they can be so good. My problem is that being raised in the south has taught me to add butter and bacon grease to all veggies so in hindsite I'm completely negating the point! I literally keep a container of bacon grease in my fridge!
10:43am • #31
650,291 Points Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

If that is what it takes -- eat those greens every day! All the best for the coming year.
11:40am • #32
2 Featured Posts

We always heard sauerkraut and pork...but I love greens!  I will try that starting today :)
12:58pm • #33
512,629 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Called Shot Master

In Texas, we have black eyed peas on New Year's Day but this year I forgot about it.  Hopefully, Lady Luck didn't notice.
1:31pm • #34
1,156,688 Points 86 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Melissa, it's not a Southern tradition, except for the collard greens. My parents, of Portuguese heritage not only have the black eyed peas, but also the New years day meal needs to have pork. Tell the kids that with enough mashed potatoes and gravy even the peas are edible
1:37pm • #35
272,065 Points 3 Featured Posts Hit Router

Our tradition has always been Black-Eyed peas and cabbage (not necessarly together but served at the same meal!).

We had that this year and one of my daughters just wouldn't eat it.  Everyone else enjoyed hearty servings so we'll see! :)
2:03pm • #36
152,733 Points

Add a bit of "Hoppin' John" and some cold beer and you've got quite a yummy repast.

Good post, thanks for sharing it.
2:08pm • #37
237,734 Points 6 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I was wondering why a post on collards would draw so many comments, then I saw the little gold star!  SEE!!!  The black eyed peas do work!

Rosalie, you'll have to remember the combination for next year.  If you already like them you're way ahead of the game!

Lynda, if only the tradition called for chiles, I'd be in luck.  I LOVE hot chiles!

Amy, when I was researching this tradition before writing the post, I read that some people add the coins to the mix!  Hope it brings you lots of luck!

Mike...steamed shrimp, you lucky dog!  That's not a hardship at all!  And a bank approving your short sale?  Now that's some good luck!

Greg, I don't know about kidney beans...they taste good, but next year try the black-eyed peas for luck!

Andrew, yes I am, unfortunately!

Cheryl, I didn't really follow a recipe - just cooked a few pieces of bacon, sauteed some onions and threw the greens in there with lots of broth and cooked the heck out of it!

Sandy, oh wow, lobster tail is so much better.  But collards are cheaper!

Kat, they're not my favorite, but I really enjoy all the fun we have as a family laughing about it!

Charita, in my southern house, my parents always had turnip greens, and I never could stand them!  Too bitter for me.  Now I can eat spinach and cabbage all day.  Collards are growing on me, and I need to learn how to cook them.

Margie, you are so right!  And this year, I cooked the collards in bacon grease.  Kicks it up a notch, but it's not like eating healthy greens!

Bob and Carolin - same to you too!

Julie, I've heard of sauerkraut and pork too - sounds more northern

Shirley - uh oh, better go grab you some before Lady Luck notices!

Ed - actually it IS a southern tradition (may be a tradition elsewhere).  Started during the Civil War - when Sherman's forces marched through the south, they raided and took everything they could eat, except the black eyed peas, which they thought was cow fodder.  Lots of southerners lived on them when they couldn't get supplies in and out during the war.  You're right, mashed potatoes and gravy help just about everything!

Good luck, Ron!  I hope your daughter didn't break the effect by not eating them!  ;-)

Anthony - I saw a recipe for Hoppin' John - maybe that will be part of next year's New Year's Day.  Plus cold beer!

 
2:57pm • #38
1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

In England it's considered to augur good fortune if the first person to visit your house in the New Year is dark-haired and carrying a lump of coal.  This leads to a tradition of "first-footing" followed by the inevitable partying.
6:51pm • #39
184,007 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog

Well now, there's a new one! lol ... Seriously, you have to cook them for 'hours?' Is this just a southern thing? I'm more of a raw veggies or lightly steamed (urg ... veggie wise!) kinda gal ....
11:05pm • #40

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