How eating black-eyed peas became a New Year’s Day tradition

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO)– For many in the South their New Year tradition includes a meal of collards, black eyed peas and pork.

But where did the tradition come from?

According to Serious Eats, the meal dates back to the mid-19th century with its first known mention in the 1838 novel ‘Recollections of a southern matron’.

According to legend the peas represent coins, the collards represent dollars and the pork is for good luck.