I don't really do anything to "ring in the New Year", but on New Year's Day, I'm going over to my friend's house to eat a traditional Southern New Year's Day dinner of Hoppin' John, collard greens and hog jowl.
If you don't know what "Hoppin' John" is, it's black-eyed peas cooked with rice and seasoned with ham. It's supposed to be for good luck; the peas represent loose change, so for every black-eyed pea you eat, that's supposed to be how many pennies you'll keep during the year, while I have no idea what the rice is for! The collard greens are supposed to represent cash money; the more you eat, the more cash you'll keep. Hasn't ever worked for me yet, though. Not sure what the hog jowl is for, but it tastes good, especially after being broiled in an oven on a roasting pan until it's all crispy!
pitbulllady
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