Celebrating the New Year...

The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all human holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. Around 2000 BC, the Babylonian New Year began with the first New Moon (actually the first visible crescent) after the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) and lasted for eleven days. In general, it would seem that the beginning of spring is a completely logical time to start a new year. After all, it is the season of rebirth, and of planting new crops

Conversely, January 1st, the day we celebrate the New Year, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary and more closely associated with the mid-winter celebrations of ancient Northern European tribes.

Traditional Foods for New Year’s Day (at least as far as we're concerned)....


Cooked Greens: Cooked greens, including cabbage, collards, kale, and chard,
are consumed at New Year's in different countries for a simple reason — their green leaves look like folded money, and are thus symbolic of economic fortune. It's widely believed that the more greens one eats the larger one's fortune next year.  


New Year's Day 2010, we had mustard greens and spicy swiss chard (homegrown)

Legumes (Black-eyed peas, red beans and navy beans in this case): Legumes including beans, peas, and lentils are also symbolic of money. Their small, seed-like appearance resembles coins that swell when cooked so they are consumed with financial rewards in mind.

In the Southern United States (where I grew up), it's traditional to eat black-eyed peas or cowpeas in a dish called hoppin' john (which means served over rice and topped with chopped green onions).

New Year's Day 2010, we had barbecued black-eyed peas partnered  with red beans and navy (white) beans.


Pork: The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Roast suckling pig is served for New Year's in Cuba, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, and Austria.

Pork is also consumed in the United States, where thanks to its rich fat content, it signifies wealth and prosperity. New Year's Day 2010, we had roast pork, cooked with a combination of onion, beef and chicken stock.

Rice: A traditional good luck food in Asian Cultures, rice is on our menu today purely as an accompaniment to the legumes. Still, we can give it an “unofficial” nod as a good luck food for New Year’s Day celebrations, due to its significance as a top food source throughout the world.