I come from Texas, where every New Year's Day we ate a hearty bowl of black eyed peas for luck in the New Year. The tradition dates back to the War of Northern Aggression (that's the Civil War for all you who don't speak Southern). When the Yankees came through, they confiscated what food they could carry and burned what they couldn't, including the crops in the field. The only thing that survived were the black eyed peas. They sustained the Southerners through the winter, and they felt lucky to have them indeed. So, in most Southern households, you will find a pot of black eyed peas with the leftover Christmas ham bone simmering on the stove on New Year's Day.
There are no black eyed peas in Mazatlan. Consequently, there were no black eyed peas simmering on my stove today. Instead, we went out for a meal of the traditional Mexican good luck food, which is – drum roll please – seafood. A pretty easy order when you live on the ocean, and in the shrimp capitol of the world besides. The sun was bright and the breeze was light, so we went to the beach to absorb some sun and eat some shrimp. This is my kind of New Year's tradition!
Sadly, I forgot to get grapes at the store, so I didn't get to make my wishes. On New Year's eve, my Mexican friends eat 12 grapes – one for each stroke of the clock at midnight. You make a wish for each grape. If you manage to eat all of your grapes before the last stroke of the clock (and not choke) all of your wishes will come true in the New Year.
I did, however, remember to put on my yellow knickers. I am not sharing the color of my under pants because I have an exhibitionist streak. Mexican women wear yellow yellow underwear for prosperity in the New Year. I decided to forgo the red panties, since I already have the love of my life.
I still miss my black eyes peas. It's hard to give up the traditions you grew up with. But I love our new traditions too. I hope your New Year brings you everything good and wondrous. Happy New Year.
Cheers!