Black-Eyed Peas Aren’t Really Peas

TRADITION (noun); 

                truh-DISH-un: 

                           1. Peer pressure from dead relatives.

The tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day has been around since 500 A.D. (at least). But, did you know that black-eyed peas aren't really peas?

According to this website, black-eyed peas are in the same family as peas and beans (legume family), but the black-eyed pea is actually a bean.

There are other legumes that we call peas that are actually beans. Take, for instance, the Clitoria Ternatea (Butterfly Pea). I've always considered any Clitoria I've encountered a bean, so I was right on that one, but the Chick Pea (chickpea), the Pigeon Pea, and the Winged Pea are all beans. Who knew?

Anyhoot, if you ate your black-eyed beans and cabbage on New Year's Day, your chances of having better health and prosperity are about as good as anyone else who ate any other kind of bean or greens, as the "good luck" properties of eating those items are just an old wive's tale.  The chances of better health might come if you eat these healthy vegetables instead of fattening food, but we normally follow up our New Year's Day meal with pies or cakes or cookies or bread pudding and the like, so I wouldn't hold my breath.

I hope you learned something new.  Happy New Year!

(Loc.gov, eBay)