Many believe that what one does at midnight or as they ring in the New Year will continue throughout the year.

The same can be said for what is eaten on New Year’s Day.

It’s a Southern tradition to eat black-eyed peas.

“I ate black-eyed peas so I can get one dollar for each in 2013,” said Pell City School Board member Laurie Mize Henderson. “I also had cornbread, pork chops and collard greens.”

The website www.goodhousekeeping.com agrees, “A common good luck food in the Southern United States, black-eyed peas are thought to bring prosperity, especially when served with collard greens.”

Cabbage is served because of its luck and fortune since it’s the color of green, which reminds us of money.

Festive eaters also put pork on their plate in order to soldier on during the year ahead.

According to www.snopes.com, pork is considered a “lucky” food because “poultry scratches backwards and a cow stands still, but a pig roots forward, ergo those who dine upon pork will be moving forward in the New Year.”

Ashville resident Christine Arnold enjoyed a plate full of black-eyed peas, cornbread and chicken legs.

“Not sure the significance of chicken legs,” said Arnold. “I eat these things because it’s tradition, and I really like the flavors.”

In Asian culture they eat noodles on New Year’s Day in order to ensure a long life. Although superstition says the noodle cannot be broken before it’s all in your mouth.

Although it’s important to keep in mind what you put on your table and in your tummies on New Year’s Day other interactions taking place on January 1 are said to determine how the year will go.

For instance, as legend tells it, we’re supposed to make as much noise as possible at midnight not only to celebrate but also, to ward off evil spirits.

Good news for New Year’s babies. Superstition says those born on January 1 will forever have luck on their side.

Whether you partook in the traditional New Year’s Day dishes or devoured other edibles here’s hoping 2013 brings you and yours nothing but prosperity, health and great success.

Happy New Year!