Every New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, I return to the same place: the kitchen.
Not because I’m trying to do the most—but because I’m honoring where I come from.
I am Black Southern, two generations removed, and some traditions don’t need reinventing. They need remembering.
This year, we’re keeping it simple, soulful, and intentional. No overcooking. No overthinking. Just food that carries meaning, memory, and hope into the year ahead.
Here’s what’s on our New Year’s table—and why it matters.
🫘 Black-Eyed Peas — Coins, Provision & Prosperity
Black-eyed peas are a staple in Black Southern homes for the New Year. They’re said to resemble coins, symbolizing financial provision, abundance, and good fortune.
For me, they’re also about survival and resilience—food our ancestors stretched, seasoned, and sanctified. Eating them is a quiet prayer that says:
May what we need never run out.
🥬 Collard Greens & Cabbage — Folded Blessings & Growth
Greens matter. Collards, cabbage—these leafy staples represent paper money, growth, and expansion.
I’m doing slow-cooker collard greens this year because:
- wisdom rests low and slow,
- and blessings don’t need to be rushed.
They remind me that prosperity isn’t just about dollars—it’s about health, peace, and sustainability.
🍞 Cornbread — Gold, Warmth & Sustenance
Cornbread on the New Year’s table symbolizes gold, nourishment, and comfort.
It’s the grounding element. The reminder that even when life gets crumbly, there is still warmth to be found. It’s also excellent at soaking up collard pot liquor—and let’s be honest, that’s ministry all by itself.
🍗 Jerk Chicken — Flavor, Fire & Forward Motion
My husband, Oji, is adding jerk chicken to the mix—because tradition can evolve without losing its soul.
Jerk seasoning brings heat, boldness, and Caribbean influence—an acknowledgment that Black foodways are not one-dimensional. This dish represents movement, spice, and the courage to keep showing up with flavor.
🍇 The 12 Grapes — Monthly Intentions & Hope
And then there are the grapes.
If you know, you know.
If you don’t—welcome.
The tradition of eating 12 grapes at midnight, one for each month of the year (sometimes under the table, because… tradition), symbolizes hope, intention, and expectancy for the year ahead.
Will we laugh? Yes.
Will the timing be perfect? Maybe not.
Will it be joyful? Absolutely.
Sometimes faith looks like eating fruit with a smile and trusting God with the rest.
🍽️ Eating Good Without Going Crazy
We’re not overdoing it this year. We’re eating mindfully, honoring tradition while adjusting habits. And it’s working.
I’m officially 11 pounds down since December 5th—and I give God all the glory. 🙌🏾
That’s discipline meeting grace. That’s listening to my body. That’s choosing longevity.
Eating good doesn’t mean eating reckless.
It means eating on purpose.
🕊️ A Table Set With Intention
This New Year, our table isn’t just about food.
It’s about:
- legacy,
- laughter,
- prayer between bites,
- and stepping into the next season nourished.
May your peas multiply.
May your greens stay tender.
May your grapes be sweet.
And may your year be full—without being heavy.
Happy New Year, from our kitchen to yours. 🥂✨
A New Year’s Table Prayer
God, thank You for food on our table and wisdom in our choices.
Thank You for traditions that remind us we come from strength and survival.
Bless our coming in and our going out.
Let provision meet discipline, joy meet health, and peace guard our home.
May what we plant this year grow steadily.
May what we release no longer weigh us down.
And may we enter this new season nourished—body, mind, and spirit.
Amen.
© 2025, Lela Fagan. All rights reserved.
