Is anyone else ringing in the New Year with yucky weather and a house full of kids who need to burn off some energy? If so, grab some dried black eyed peas, glue, and paper, and what do you have?
Instant Craft, Learning Activity, Tradition, and Decoration all rolled into one gluey package!
Growing up in the South we've always eaten black eyed peas on New Year's Day and I never quite knew why. Fortunately I like the tasty little peas so I guess I never felt the need to question that tradition until now. As I was buying bags of the little winking peas for eating, crafting and decorating, I started wondering what was so special about the little guys every January 1st.
My intensive research (asking my buddy Mr. Google) led me to several stories, the most popular of which I will share with you here.
History tells us that in the pre-Civil War area, black eyed peas were considered unfit for human consumption and were planted to feed the livestock. When the south was ravaged during the war, crops were stolen or destroyed, leaving nothing but the humble and nutritious black eyed pea to feed the troops and remaining Southerners. Since that time, the black eyed pea has evolved to a symbol of luck, prosperity, and wealth to represent a prosperous start to a New Year.
While I am not of a superstitious mind to believe in "luck", who doesn't love a good excuse to enjoy a traditional serving of black eyed peas, or this Texan's favorite: Texas Caviar?
While I am not of a superstitious mind to believe in "luck", who doesn't love a good excuse to enjoy a traditional serving of black eyed peas, or this Texan's favorite: Texas Caviar?
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| Image Source: Chow.com |
Better still, get the little ones involved. My 3 year old loved gluing peas to paper outlining 2013. Big brother, aged 5, enjoyed the role of instructing his sister in the best pea-gluing techniques. Gluing tiny peas helps to nurture the development of those important fine motor skills. Baby brother explored the feeling of the dried peas in his hands (and briefly in his mouth until they were quickly confiscated!).
We also used this activity as an opportunity to count peas and compare to see which number held the greatest number of peas (on ours the number 2 was the winner with 35 peas!). Math in a fun way keeps my little guys engaged and learning and warms the heart of this Mama, lover of math and science.
This quick, inexpensive project opened the door to discussing the concept of tradition with my kids as well as a little history. One of my favorite parts of being a mom is watching my children learn and develop in the everyday activities of life. It doesn't take fancy curriculum or expensive learning toys...just some glue, paper and a few peas!
Most importantly, we had fun as a family and you can too.
What are your favorite New Year's traditions? Any special projects planned for your little ones this week?
One last piece of advice: if you decide to whip up a pot of peas or try your hand at that special Texas treat, don't use the peas you gave to your kids!
What are your favorite New Year's traditions? Any special projects planned for your little ones this week?
One last piece of advice: if you decide to whip up a pot of peas or try your hand at that special Texas treat, don't use the peas you gave to your kids!
We used to do that as kids, thanks for reminding me and I should make something with our son - thanks!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather,
DeleteThanks for stopping by and taking time to comment. Sometimes I forget that my kids typically enjoy the simplest projects and this one was a hit!
I have never heard of eating Black eyed peas for New Years. Thanks for sharing the history on this tradition, I will make sure that next year they are on the menu! And what a fun craft for the kids. My daughter is going stir crazy at home over this winter break and I bet she would love doing some art! Thanks for sharing on We Made That!
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting and for hosting the link party! I'm also considering getting a mix of different dried beans and letting them make a mosaic piece. Good opportunity for learning colors, shapes, and comparing sizes.
DeleteHappy New Year to you Jessica! My friend who hosted the Southern meal, told us the story, and she told it so well made me stop and think about the day. I loved the meal too btw.
ReplyDeleteCute! Great craft project for the kids. Delicious side dish!!! I have eaten Texas Caviar (a.k.a. Cowboy Caviar), and I really like it. I ate blackeyed peas for prosperity I the New Year, too. That's been a tradition for as long as I can remember when my great-Grandmother would have us over.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and yours!!!
Great ideas for the kids and the grownups! I grew up way down south and am very familiar with the black-eyed peas tradition as well as the collard greens and, always, some sort of pork. My girls and their families were at our house yesterday. We had all of the above and more and it was a very sweet time, indeed!
ReplyDeleteHi Lynn,
DeleteGlad to hear you had a good New Year's with your family! Aren't those Southern foods good?
Jessica - I just loaded your blog into the draft post for my Grow Your Blog party - so you are all set. Latest updates onmy blog -- see you on the 19th.
ReplyDeleteVicki
Looks like fun--Happy New Year!! We are transplants to the South--we've lived in Houston for five years--and this is the first I've heard this tradition...we're definitely going to have to start celebrating it!!
ReplyDeleteA great idea for kids and adults! I'm familiar with, as well as the very tradition of black-eyed peas, growing up way down south of collard green, always, is the kind of pork. Yesterday was my girlfriend and family at our house. Above, and we have both, and in fact, was a very sweet time!
ReplyDelete