I have often wondered if this tradition is a southern thing.
When I was growing up, New Year’s Day was rather frustrating. All day long, I would be warned: “If you do that today, you’ll be doing it all year long!”
Mamaw Jo was so adamant about it, that doing laundry was almost forbidden on New Year’s Day.
One time I was brave and asked Mamaw, “Why are you so convinced about not doing laundry on that day?”
Her answer wasn’t what I expected. “I had a friend who washed clothes on New Year’s Day. Her husband got sick and she washed his clothes all year long!”
I thought she was just following an old wives tale, but she wasn’t. In Mamaw’s eyes, the sickness happened because her friend dared to wash clothes on that day. And there was no convincing her otherwise.
My mom had her own beliefs about New Year’s Day in that she always fixed a pot of black-eyed peas. Not liking those things, I didn’t want to eat them. My mother was adamant that I eat a few. After forcing down each spoonful, I would ask, “Is that enough?”
Why was I doing that?
My mother believed eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day will bring you good luck all year. I dare say this did come from an old wives tale.
When I grew older, I refused to eat them. She would beg me to eat at least just one. I would, just to appease her. And yes, it was literally one pea.
Actually, I could use the word superstition instead of tradition.
Obviously, I am not superstitious. I look at it this way: there are billions of humans on this planet that God watches over. In fact, He knows the number of hairs on each head. So He’s not worried that we spill salt, break a mirror, or whatever else. Don’t ever forget that we mean too much to Him for that.
So, if you invite me over on New Year’s Day and you serve black-eyed peas, don’t expect me to eat any. Well, I may if you dip some into chocolate first.
“But even the very hairs of you head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” Luke 12:7 (KJV)