As the countdown to the new year begins, many New Orleanians are sticking to traditions they hope will set the tone for the months ahead even if they admit it’s part belief, part ritual.
For some, the menu matters. Greens or cabbage are still seen as symbols of wealth, while black-eyed peas are believed to bring good health in the year to come.
“I don’t play about my greens and peas,” one woman told us. “That’s prosperity and health and I’ll take all I can get.”
Others say they follow the traditions less out of superstition and more for the ceremony. Just a way to feel grounded as one year turns into the next.
“I don’t know if it really works,” another person laughed, “but it feels wrong not to do it.”
Then there are the rules that have nothing to do with food. Several people told us they won’t wash clothes until after the new year, believing doing laundry on New Year’s Day could symbolically “wash” someone out of their life.
One woman we spoke with admitted she had completely forgotten about that tradition until we reminded her.
“Thank you for that,” she said. “I want everybody in my family sticking around all year.”
Whether rooted in belief or simply tradition, many say these small rituals offer comfort, hope, and a sense of intention as the new year begins.
Proving that sometimes, it’s not about whether it works…it’s about starting fresh with good energy.