It's 18 degrees here in New York City.When it's that cold in New York no one goes outside unless they have to. This morning I got up and ran my butt outside to the grocery store to buy a bag of black eyed peas. That may sound crazy but in the back of my mind I knew it was something that had to be done.I bared the cold for tradition.Growing up I can remember eating black eyed peas and collard greens around the holidays but most specifically on New Years Day (not eve). No one ever explained why we did this and I didn't question it because who doesn't love black eyed peas with ham and collard greens?! I thought it was just holiday food.It wasn't until I was older and started cooking for myself did I start to question this tradition.After doing a bit of research I've learned that eating black eyed peas is a Southern tradition. This makes sense in my case being that my mothers side of the family is primarily from the south. My aunt (one of my mother's older sisters) is a powerhouse at cooking traditional southern food. My mouth is watering just thinking about her collards.In the south, it is said that black eyed peas was a symbol of emancipation for African Americans who had been previously enslaved and were freed on New Years Day.If it takes cooking and eating something that I love the taste of to celebrate emancipation I'm all for it. I'll walk in the cold a thousand times if I have to.Black eyed peas is also considered a good luck dish. This tradition (well the superstitious part of it) also stems back from the south. The concept is, if you eat black eyed peas on New Years Day you will be prosperous throughout the year.I'm here for this too. I believe in certain superstitions to some extent so I'm going to rock with this one and eat up these peas!I've already cooked and eaten my black eyed peas (seen above) for the day. I did not go with tradition and cook them with pork , I just added a tiny bit of onions and garlic seasoning. I did however throw a little hot sauce on them once they were cooked which is considered traditional.Now that my belly is full and I had a side of good ole' black eyed peas I can rest easy and manifest all of the good things coming my way.Cheers to much success in the new year!Foodies out there, are there any New Year traditions you follow or keep going? If so, share below. Leave a comment.