The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

RURAL BLACK NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM

DURING THE DEPRESSION, IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI IT WAS
CUSTOMARY AMONG BLACKS TO PREPARE HOG JOWLS AND BLACK-EYED
PEAS AS THE FIRST MEAL OF THE NEW YEAR. IT WAS THOUGHT
THAT THIS WOULD BRING GOOD LUCK FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.
I DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE ACTUALLY BELIEVED THAT GOOD LUCK
COULD RESULT FROM EATING A PARTICULAR MEAL. IT WAS JUST
A CUSTOMARY THING TO DO. SOMETIMES, AFTER WE CAME NORTH,
WE WOULD STILL FIX THE MEAL FOR NEW YEAR'S. AFTER I GOT
MARRIED, IN 1950, I DON'T RECALL PREPARING ANY PARTICULAR
MEAL ON NEW YEAR'S.

Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT LIVED IN LOUISVILLE, MISSISSIPPI UNTIL BEING
SENT OVERSEAS IN WORLD WAR II. BY HIS RETURN, IN 1946,
THE FAMILY HAD MOVED TO DETROIT. THE INFORMANT HAS LIVED
IN DETROIT SINCE THAT TIME.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Subject headings:

CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's
CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Custom
Food Drink -- Food
Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals
Food Drink -- Plant food Vegetable
Food Drink -- Meat Bred animal
Food Drink -- Special Form and PurposeObject of Bodily Consumption
BELIEF -- Custom
BELIEF -- Measure of time Year
BELIEF -- Good luck Time (year, season, week, hour, etc.) Occasion Event

Date learned: 09-00-1982