Sometimes young men would get together to welcome the new year by shooting guns at midnight or discharging blasts of blackpowder. Courting couples, when they did not go to parties on New Year’s Eve, would have dates for watching in the new year, often with the young woman’s entire family ranged about the fireplace with them. It was customary to write the new year as quickly as one could after the stroke of midnight. One might write the date on the hearth with a charcoal or in the soot on the backwall of the fireplace with a poker. There was no crying in of the new year or singing.
New year’s dinner (at midday) included the simplest of foods, for it was believed that a simple dinner assured prosperity and health for the ensuing year. Hog’s jowl, cornpone, leatherbritchy beans, stewed pumpkin, hominy, boiled cabbage or canned mustard, stewed fruit with gingerbread or an undecorated cake, and sweet milk or buttermilk constituted a more or less typical New Year’s dinner.
—Tales from Sacred Wind Coming of Age in Appalachia written by Cratis D. Williams
All of the customs related by Williams are familiar to me with the exception of writing the new year down as soon as it arrived. I’ve never heard nor read of anyone else holding that tradition. Have you?
Last night’s video: The Last Hooray of Christmas Makes Matt Very Happy.
Tipper
Such a sad situation for those children. One wonders how officials can be so cruel and return them to a situation so deeply painful to the children. Pray God will be with these children and hopefully He has touched the heart of the biological family and brings love and caring back for her children. Please God be with them all. Also for the families who cared for and loved all these children and helped them see, feel and have love through the foster family. Also that it will give them all hope for life change to the good with their blood family. Amen.
May God continue His mighty blessings upon you and the family we have now known for so many years. I pray for your ability to continue displaying the many connections between the folkways of yesteryear and today. Yours is an important work.
We had mixed collards and mustard cooked with a cured-ham hock, cornbread, black-eyed peas and pork tenderloin, yesterday.
Have you ever heard of using the first 12 days of the year to predict the sort of weather the following months will have? If that holds true January will be mild and windy (because yesterday was) and February will be well above normal temperature (because today was 87°F here in central Texas.
The next 10 days predict the weather trend for March thru December.
Robert, I have heard those weather predicting days called ruling days 🙂
My daughter-in-law was sick yesterday and I told her she needed to get better pretty quick if she didn’t want to be sick for the whole month of January. The 12 ruling days predict more than the weather.
My husband and children always share a blind robin which is smoked Herring. and for New Year’s Day we have pork and sauerkraut. the tradition or the theory is you want to eat something that pushes ahead and not scratches back like a turkey or chicken because then you’ll be scratching all year. another superstition we used to go by was make sure a man was the first one to come through your door in the new year. Not sure why but not sure why all these superstitions are.
That simple dinner, as described, is an elaborate feast where I come from. I have eaten all those dishes at various times (except the stewed pumpkin) but not all on the same table at the same time.
Now that I’m alone all that would easily last me a week or more.
My own Granny would fix black eyed peas, greens, cornbread & ham. My father didn’t care for the superstition of the meal. When I was married & out of my father’s house I was able to revisit some things. We have had for numberous years enjoyed this tradition.
As always praying for Granny.
Sticking to our tradition, we had black-eyed peas. I make my with hog jowl, onions, tomatoes with green chilies, some chili powder, onion powder and garlic powder. We have Uncle Jessie’s Cornbread, Coleslaw, mashed potatoes and leftover meatloaf. Happy New Year.
My church had our regular Wednesday night prayer meeting on NYE. Then we headed to the basement fellowship hall wherecrickpots were full of wonderful smelling food. Desserts on one table drinks on another…buffet style. After eating we played Bible Trivia and other games while the little kids chased each other playing freeze tag and whatever they could thi k of to stay awake until we went back upstairs for a beautiful time of prayer and worship as the New Year came in! It was beautiful fellowship, and gathering as believers of like faith thanked God for the past year and prayed for one another for the coming years blessings. This is the same tradition I recall as a kid growing up in Southeastern, Kentucky.
Never heard of writing the new year down as soon as it arrived. My youngest son came and cooked the whole meal for me. Black eyed peas with pork and delicious cornbread. Also, a little pork and sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. It was all so good and so sweet of him to do it all for me as I have always loved to be the cooker. My wrist should be healed in a couple months.
Norman that was so heart-warming to know that a manager of a store would deliver a meal to you.
Randy I prayed for those teenage children, and your nephew and wife, as soon as I read your comment.
Tipper I tried to tell you ‘you forgot the zest’ lol I did not catch the sugar since it was out of sight of the camera—–do not think I ever heard of writing down he new year, that is a new one on me.
does Granny like the orange bread-if so I hope her stomach allowed her to eat a bite. Bless her heart (and all of you). is deer season over now? here in Oklahoma bow season is still going on (it starts in Oct then is put on hold during rifle and black powder season and starts again for about another month–years ago I use to bow hunt, I enjoyed getting out in the woods for hours at a time and it did not matter if my arrow never connected with one–I would have been hard pressed to drag a big ol muley deer out of the woods by myself anyway lol)
Deer season is over here 🙂
Randy, the love that your family shared with these children will never be forgotten by them. God has not forgotten them either. He hears and answers our prayers.
Here in North Mississippi I grew up having black eye peas, cabbage & cornbread on New Year’s Day. I haven’t had that meal on New Year’s Day in many years. I was a single Mom & struggled financially and remember thinking, “the heck with that meal, been broke for years & those black eye peas didn’t do a thing to help me.” My best high school friend always wrapped a raw piece of cabbage in tin foil & put it in her wallet. Supposedly you would always have money in your wallet if you did that. My Mom would never wash on Wednesdays, and my grandmother told me to never count cars in a funeral procession or I would have bad luck. When I was a child I never believed in such nonsense & I still don’t. Even as a child I guess I was a too no nonsense kid as I have remained all my life. Praying for a prosperity & good health & a closer relationship with our good Lord for 2026.
I Love hearing all the stories & traditions & will be praying for all those struggling right now .
Hi tipper watched the orange rolls recipe. What kind of orange do you use. I expect that would be helpful as some have more rind and are sweeter. I plan on making that when I have the time . Glad I found your site years ago . Hope everyone has a great year .
Judith, I just use whatever oranges I have on hand 🙂 Usually the ones my local grocery sells. I don’t know the variety.
That meal sounds like a feast to me! Growing up mom always cooked a turkey for Christmas and a ham for New Year’s, both huge meals. When our kids were all living at home we cooked large meals as well. Now that they have homes of their own and it’s just my husband and I for NY, our New Year’s meal looks like any other day.
Tipper, I’m making one New Year’s resolution this year, to make your Orange cinnamon bread. I’ve printed the recipe off, watched you make it several times, so….I should be good to go! Haha
Tipper, how many oranges did you go through to get that much zest?
Dale, about 5 average size oranges 🙂
I don’t didn’t know the story behind the black eyed peas until i read it a few years ago. Lincoln’s marauding army came through destroying, burning or killing everything in its path and leaving the people starving. The only thing they left was black eyed peas because they considered them unfit for human consumption. That was all the survivors had to eat until they could get in another crop. God provides.
Happy New Year! Please pray for brother’s father in law going to surgery now for a broken leg. He is 101 , loves the Lord, also is a ww2 Marine veteran.I haven’t heard of writing the new year. I wonder if those dates can be found at old homestead sites. God bless
I’ve never heard of writing down the new year as soon as it comes in either. That’s interesting. My mother-in- law said a man had to be the first one to enter your home on New Year’s Day or you would have bad luck all year and so we all made sure that one of the men in the family would walk in first. I had never heard of that tradition until I married her son.
Wow to writing the new year fast and being first…my precious Mother in-law and I would see who did it first and put it on the refrigerator with a post it note and sometimes just a small slip of paper held on by a magnet, of course. I miss her…God rest her soul. Its good practice in my opinion, to write it down several times just so you will have it in your mind for writing checks in the New Year. Checks are not written as often as they once were. However, knowing what year it is is important when signing other documents. New Year Blessings!
While living in Hawaii they have a special tradition that many people do to bring in the New Year. Two were very impressive. The first was a special honor for me because it involved native Hawaiians and being invited to spend New Year’s Eve on Hawaiian Homestead Lands. This is an area where only people of a certain amount of Hawaiian blood can own land. If an Hawaiian person marries a non Hawaiian if that Hawaiian person dies first the non Hawaiian cannot inherit the land. It is a special place where Hawaiians can live and promote their culture. Plus this land with its ranch style houses are very inexpensive. I had made many happa Hawaiians ( part Hawaiian and another non Hawaiian race) couples in my work at Hawaii State Hospital and Adult Education in Waimanalo. This lead to my being invited at New Years Eve parties on the Homestead lands. The tradition in Hawaii is that fireworks of any kind can be set off at 7:00 PM and can last until 3:00 AM in the morning. The amount of fireworks is unbelievable. At three AM the cleanup is amazing because the amount of paper from the fireworks is almost several inches deep, like fallen snow but it’s paper. Now I also attended a Chinese New Year Celebration in China town in Honolulu. The dancing dragons and the thousands of firecrackers is unbelievable. I was warned by my friend who invited me to make sure I wore a mask because of the amount of smoke from the firecrackers. Again a great experience. Have a blessed New Year!!!
That was such an interesting comment, Ron. Thanks so much for sharing! It’s fun to hear about other customs and traditions. Happy New Year to you and to all!
Randy, no doubt in my mind that God himself is grieved with all the many sorrows of that situation. He will not let it pass without being at work within it to do as he did with Joseph, to provide a posterity. This I believe.
I noted in the New Year’s meal that he mentioned “canned mustard”. I wonder how many do that anymore. I can’t recall if Mom canned it or not – probably did. But I’m thinking with most people canned greens would not be high on their list to can.
When we lived in the inner city of St. Louis they shot guns off at midnight. Very strange to us but I see it is not so unusual.
The only tradition I can remember from growing up was that my parents believed what you did on New Year’s Day would be what you did all year long. Mom made sure we got out of that warm bed early. There would be no laziness to start the new year. Our New Year’s Day meal was the same as it had been for nearly all of the year. We ate pork, greens, and cornbread just about every day.
I so love and miss the old New Year’s traditions my people did. My mom always made us have money in our pocket before midnight and celebrate the new year in with horns, laughter or songs. She did this because of old wives tales she had been told growing up. The money in our pocket, no matter the amount was so that in the New Year we would always have money throughout the year. Celebrating was because whatever you were doing at midnight of the new year, you would be doing the rest of the that year. If you were laughing and happy, then you would be laughing and happy throughout the year. If you were crying or sad, then all throughout that year you would be sad and crying. If you were working, then you would work throughout that year. It’s silly old wives tales, but I still make sure we have money in our pockets and doing something good at the stroke of midnight on the New Year. Mom also cooked up a pot of cooked cabbage with black eyed peas, and cornbread for our first supper of the New Year. She always sterilized a half dollar or quarter to mix in the cooked cabbage. Whoever got the half dollar or quarter in their serving of cooked cabbage would be lucky all year long. Us kids would try to look for it so it got in our serving, but mom caught on real quick what we were trying to do. She would hold the bowl up so we couldn’t see in the bowl as we scooped out our one spoonful of cooked cabbage. If no one got it on the first serving, then only after we ate ours then we could try again with a second serving. With 5 kids plus mom and dad, usually someone got it in their first serving. It was a fun tradition and whoever found the half dollar or quarter got to keep it and buy whatever they wanted. Great memories I cherish.
We couldn’t make it until midnight on New Year’s Eve. Most years, my brother-in-law and other neighbors have shot guns at midnight. One of my sister-in-laws sent us a text and woke us up around 12:15. lol. My hubby and I had a simple dinner of deer burgers in gravy, with mashed potatoes, a tossed salad, and beets. I laughed, along with you last evening, when you forgot a couple ingredients in your orange bread…but it turned out perfect because you made it with love. Blessings to your family and all here on the blind pig.
I also ate collard greens black-eyed peas as we have all my life. was curious as to why this is our traditional new year day’s meal.
probably was told when I was younger but can’t recall the history.
We always have eaten the traditional foods on NYD (hog jowl, usually collard, but could be turnip or mustard greens, cabbage, black-eyed peas, etc.., but broke tradition yesterday (I eat enough of the same the rest of the year) My grandaddy once asked me on NYE; “are you going to sit up and see any “haints” pass through tonight?”. I asked him what he meant and he said as young’un, they’d stay up all night and try to see any spirits or ghosts passing from last year to the new new one. I was about twelve at the time and figured it was just some excuse they used to sit up all night around the fireplace……..
I’d never heard of watching for haints before. That sounds like a fun reason to sit up and swap tales and have a good time!
I throughly enjoyed the video last night. I love when Matt eats something and when asked if it’s good, responds in a low voice “gosh yes”.
We had left over pork chops and broccoli. Not exactly traditional but it was mighty good!
Enjoyed reading the comments on other traditions.
sour Kraft and pork on new years day for good luck though out the year
Growing up my family nor my husband’s family ever did any New Year’s celebrations other than popping some firecrackers in the front yard. We never ate black eyed peas for the New Year so, needless to say, I don’t do it now. My night was quiet & I was in bed by 10:00 p.m. 🙂 Sort of boring but I like it that way. Happy New Year to all! Prayers for Granny as she approaches another new year.
I haven’t heard of writing the date as soon as you can, but I did write “Thursday, January 1, 2026” in my journal before going to bed on New Year’s Eve so I wouldn’t start out the new year making a mistake that I would need to correct. I should maybe write 2026 on the next couple of checks, as well. I don’t write many checks, except in spring and summer for the mowers, but it won’t hurt to be prepared.
Yesterday we ate collard greens, pork chops and cooked apples, black eyed peas and cornbread. We do some variation of the peas, pork and greens each New Year’s Day.
Here’s wishing and hoping for a good 2026 for everybody!
I’ve always heard sour Kraft and pork on new years day for good luck
Well we typically have cabbage or kraut, but Im a little under the weather. Soon as we can we’ll have it.
Growing up we took turns going to each other’s house and our parents played euchre for hours. By the time midnight rolled around we were past ready to go home and get in our beds if we were away from home.
The local news told a man was struck by a falling bullet in the city on the eve. He’s seriously injured. We haven’t shot guns in a lot years.
Good Morning Tipper and Matt. I loved watching the last hooray yesterday. I’ve never hear of the writing of the date either. I had heard of a Russian tradition where people write down on paper things they want to forget or get over an burn the paper. Then they mix the ash in water and drink it.
I had collard greens black-eyed peas and cornbread yesterday, I’ll call that traditional New Year’s Day food, I got it delivered to me from Ingles, over Dawsonville 14 miles away, I don’t have a car, a meal like that was not available by delivery through the instacart application, so I called the store, and the manager said he would bring it to me, corporate called me and got my number, I paid for it, praise God what a kind gentleman, to bring me food on New Year’s Day, God bless you friends
you should praise for him to his company for doing such a great deed as well as the store. that is awesome for sure!!
Happy New Year! We still follow the traditions of blackeye peas, greens, cornbread and pork. We eat this often anyway so I think it’s a great tradition! I’ve always been told to not wash clothes on New Year’s Day because it was bad luck and also not to sweep the floor (you’re sweeping your good luck out the door). We’ve passed these traditions to the next generation also.
Interesting New Years traditions. Ours was a family gathering for a noon time meal of ham, collards, black eyed peas and cornbread.
I want to make your Orange Bread!
It looks beautiful and i am sure it’s delicious.
I wish your family a happy and healthy 2026.
Sounds like a good dinner to me. Been a while since I have ate leather britches.
I hope you and all your family have a great New Year.
I have many good memories of time spent with family on New Years Day though out the years. Many times I would go hunting with my father in law and Daddy. Just like yesterday, dinner would be simple, black eye peas, collards or turn greens, cornbread ( unsweetened, sweet is a sin) some type of pork meat, sweet ice tea and maybe sweet potato pie. I always head that whatever you did on New Years Eve you would be doing all year. One year in the past, my father in law, brother in law and me changed out the old rear tires for new tires on a M Farmall tractor. These tires are 38 inch tires with an overall diameter or height of about 6 ft. We were laughing while doing this and saying we hoped this didn’t mean we would be working on tractor tires all year. Just another example of country folks doing for themselves. This year, I was in bed by 9:30, the new year can come in just fine without my help. As for noise, my wife and her sisters would blow car horns at midnight back when we were a lot younger.
Yesterday, I made a memory that I will enjoy but haunt me for the rest of my life. My nephew and his wife are unable to have children of their own, so they have been fostering older teenage children. They have had two brothers and a sister for about a year. All of us have fell in love with them but now they are being sent back to try to live with their mother again. The girl is 13 and was crying her eyes out because of this. We were all hugging/loving them and crying along with her. Yes I was too. During the last year all of us have covered them in love give the birthday parties they never had, Christmas gifts and tried to set a good example of showing them how they can live their lives. She and her brothers want to be adopted by my nephew and his wife but are not eligible for adoption. She said with her mother, she didn’t even know if they would have anything to eat from day to day, let along the other things such as clothes they might need. I do not understand why DSS would take them out of a home where there is no such worries and send them back.
Randy, I will pray for them. Your family’s goodness will not be in vain. Kids know who love and care for them.
We have an adopted son and the first few years were a rollercoaster. He came to us at two weeks old and we adopted him at 3 years old. There were many, many tears during those early years. He will be 25 in April.
I will hold y’all close. Children are precious and need to know they are valued and loved! Thank you and your family for showing that to them.
Randy, I will hold the brother and sister in the Light, as well as your family who are going to miss them and worry over their wellbeing.
Such a wonderful fostering story. I hope the children have a better situation this time
around or worst case, can advocate for themselves since they have been given this wonderful gift of a stable loving home!
Randy, that is so sad. I’ll pray for those children.
Randy by heart bleeds for such kids. Reminds me of another foster account i was told years ago. Maybe the kids can come back.
Randy, I too will hold those children in the Light for their well-being and to be able to return to where they’re loved. Holding in the Light is a Quaker expression for prayer. And, you’re so right about the cornbread. Real southern cornbread isn’t sweetened; the sweetened stuff is just cake.