The end of the year is quickly approaching and, as is tradition, many are seeking out resolutions that will bring them the ever-coveted fresh start of a new year. While setting goals can be an important and rewarding task, there’s also a Virginia tradition – or superstition – that promises loads of fortune and happiness in the following year. 2020 is coming up quickly, and there’s no better way to get ready for a shift in time than a trip back in time, by way of solid southern tradition. Nothing shows Virginia’s southern roots quite like our love of food and a good tradition. So it seems fitting that our 2020 luck ritual begins in the kitchen with the preparation of black eyed peas. If this sounds bland to you, there’s a good chance you haven’t tried this version. So here’s a recipe for bringing the best of luck, so you can follow along with this New Year’s superstition in Virginia.

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And there you have it, folks! An easy peas-y way to ring in the New Year with the promise of great fortunes. Of course, ultimately it’s the making of the meal and enjoying it with friends and family that sets a wonderful tone for the days to come. But then again…if generations of Virginians have sworn by this recipe, there’s got to be something to it and it’s no doubt a well-known New Year’s superstition in Virginia.

Do you have any memories of eating this meal on New Year’s Day? Has it brought about any rewards? Share your thoughts with us!

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New year's Superstition In Virginia

Are there any other superstitions in Virginia?

There are all sorts of stories and superstitions that spawn from Virginia, especially since it's located in the highly story-wrought south. The southern United States is known for its focus on family lore and story. In Virginia, it’s been long believed that females bring bad luck to coal mines, and if birds are allowed to use one’s hair for nesting material, then the hair host will quickly go crazy. If one swept under the bed of a sick person, their life was soon to end. There are almost too many to count!

What are the most popular traditions in Virginia?

Local traditions are what makes each state their own, and makes it a personable place for folks to live. From apple picking in the fall to classic Virginia ham, there are quite a few local experiences that folks in Virginia have made a popular tradition. Oysters are a culinary delicacy, and honest Virginia tradition, as well as Chesapeake blues. Enjoy Historic Garden Week and make sure to snag Virginia peanuts to round out a traditional state experience.

What is the most bizarre superstition in Virginia?

One of the strangest stories in Virginia is perhaps the story of the hunter’s wife and the ax. The hunter’s wife was instructed to throw an ax at her husband to give him good luck, but if he failed to kill game that day, it was considered that his gun was spelled. Believed to be a work of witchcraft, an older woman in the community would be shot in response. Now, we’re not sure how many folks actually acted upon such a dark superstition, but it’s a strange park of Appalachian history that’s attributed to Virginia.