Pitt County Family Development

by Minerva D. Freeman on Tuesday, December 28, 2010 at 8:18am

An optimist stays up until midnight to see the New Year in.  A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves. ~Bill Vaughan

Soul food is tasty, simple, hearty, and rooted in tradition.  Many soul food recipes - succulent fried chicken, sweet potato pie, rich macaroni and cheese, sloppy barbecue ribs and meats, and ham hock collard greens with pork fat -- have been passed down over the generations and include cooking ingredients that we know today are not healthy for us to eat in large quantities. You want to honor tradition yet maintain your health. So what should you do?

An occasional, traditional, soul food, meal at holiday gatherings and celebrations is probably not going to hurt you in the long run and that you should live your life in balance. However if you want to eat these foods regularly, here's what we found:

- Obesity

- High Cholesterol

- Diabetes

- High Blood Pressure

- Heart Problems

- High in calories

- Foods cooked with lard & saturated fat

- Recipes heavily seasoned with salt and sugar

- Use of fatty meats

- High in cholesterol

- Collard greens - good source of fiber, vitamins and minerals

- Sweet Potatoes - excellent source of beta-carotene

- Meats -- supply daily protein and B vitamins

- Exercise

- Make your next meal one filled with fiber

- Drink tea

- Avoid bad foods, fast food, and sodas

New Years Day is a forward looking event.  During weeks building up to New Year’s Eve, we take time to assess what our year was like.  Did we accomplish goals set in 2010.  Did we lose that weight, kick that guy to the curb, sign up for some classes to make that career more or what did we do?  By New Years Day we are optimistic.   We feel empowered to have a better year spiritually, economically, socially and or relationship wise.  Once we have made our 2012 Resolution, we can settle down to some traditional eating.  Most of us have hear the orators or elder storytellers share the significance of that special New Years Day Feast.  What’s behind those Black Eyed Peas, Collard Green, Chitlins, Pigs Feet, Hog Head,  Corn Bread, Yams, Rice, cake and pies?  The menu might vary from household to household, but you could find many of these foods on most African American New Years Day table.

These foods on the first day of the New Year were stressed as good luck food.  Family members were encouraged to eat all their food to ensure that good luck for the coming year. Additionally, your behavior on the first day of the year, set the tone for the year.  My parents made sure we had money in our pockets, and most of all no arguments.  Moreover, parents in the neighborhood tried to settle debts, misunderstanding with family and others people they had apt with during the past, and giving back borrowed items.  They took great pain to do a thorough house cleaning.  Again, “sweep out the past and make room for the future.”  My mom would always hang Mistletoe over the door post for good luck.  A significant tradition was for a man to be the first to enter your house on New Year’s Day. Often times, one or two men would rise early and visit the homes in the neighborhood.  It was tradition for them to sit a while to enjoy a cup of coffee, eat a little breakfast, or some food item before going to the next house.

Food Symbolism:  Many of these traditions go back to slavery.  During this time period, the slaves did not have much in the way of money but a treasure of family value and togetherness, and a belief that things would get better with God’s help.  The slaves were sustained by looking forward to the New Year by ending the old year with respect and beginning the new one in the way we would like it to begin, we declare our intentions for the New Year!

Black-eyed Peas: the tradition of eating black-eyed represented money, mainly pennies.  Eating black-eyed peas meant you would have money during the coming year.

New Year’s Day for descendants of slave’s holds special significant. On January 1, 1863, the Emancipation Proclamation, freeing all slaves from bondage, was read in Boston.

President Abraham Lincoln announced that the Emancipation Proclamation would take effect Jan. 1, thus the slaves reportedly gathered together on what was called "Freedom's Eve" to await and watch what the New Year would bring. This act would eventually become known as Watch Night.

Today, many African-American families participate in “watch services” where there is prayer, praise and passion for the prospect of a wonderful New Year. Then on January 1, there is wide celebration with the traditional family dinner.

Happy 2012, Family, Friends and Country!