CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day has been a tradition held by families for decades, but where did it first come from?
Let's connect the dots.
According to author and food scholar Adrian Miller, eating black-eyed peas for the holiday is said to bring good luck, health and abundance.
Exactly how the tradition came to be isn't as clear.
Some researchers say it originated during the Civil War when union soldiers raided Confederate lands, taking items, but leaving the peas behind.
They say, those peas kept confederate families fed, potentially giving them their reputation for good luck.
Others say it was newly freed slaves who gave the bean its claim to fame when they reportedly ate them in celebration of emancipation.
Regardless of where the black-eyed pea gets its mythical flair, there's one thing to count on - families around the country will enjoy them while ringing in the new year.
Contact Kayland Hagwood at khagwood@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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