Every year on New Year's Day we have the traditional southern supper of ham, black-eyed peas, and greens. Those dishes are considered talismans for the year ahead; the ham because a pig in his pen can't look backward and neither should you; the black-eyed peas for luck and the greens for money. In addition, we always have pan-fried chicken, corn, and rice, and every year or so we make up new meanings for those foods as well, so that they, too, might be charms to carry us successfully through the next year.
Yesterday's symbolism was especially satisfying to me: chicken for health, because it's lean, corn for sunshine and clear skies, because of its bright color, and rice because it represents our collective identity, many grains combine to make one dish.
Yes, our meal perfectly captures my fondest wish as I look ahead to the new year: luck, prosperity, health, and sunshine, in the company of family and friends.
Yesterday's symbolism was especially satisfying to me: chicken for health, because it's lean, corn for sunshine and clear skies, because of its bright color, and rice because it represents our collective identity, many grains combine to make one dish.
Yes, our meal perfectly captures my fondest wish as I look ahead to the new year: luck, prosperity, health, and sunshine, in the company of family and friends.
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