For centuries, New Year's Day has been a widely celebrated holiday around the world, full of traditions and superstitions(1) dating back to 2000 B.C., but few are as strong as devouring(2) a heaping(3) helping(4) of black-eyed peas(5) and collard greens.

Many superstitions about the New Year are based on the idea that what we do on the first day of the year sets the pattern for the year to come. In the South, where the day is most commonly celebrated, eating black-eyed peas is thought to bring good luck.

Though many home cooked extras may accompany the peas, collard greens are a southern favorite because they are believed to bring fortune and money.

“We'll go through about 40 pounds of black-eyed peas and 60 pounds of collard greens on New Year's Day,” said Gary Waller, associate general manager of Piccadilly Cafeteria in Morrow. “People request them all day left and right and we'll serve more black-eyed peas and collard greens than any other day of the year.”

Gritz Family Restaurant in McDonough has also ordered an abundance of(6) black-eyeds and collards to prepare for the New Year's demand.

“A lot of people come in and order them as their two sides with an entree(7),” said Manager Kim Lee. “Some like to take home extra for their family so we always try to have plenty on hand(8).”

But, if you prefer celebrating the new year at home, you can enjoy cooking your own good luck dinner.

McDonough resident Charlotte Miller has been doing that for more than 60 years. Her peas and greens are accompanied by a tender Boston butt pork roast.

“I'm 67 years old and I remember my mother cooking this meal every New Year's Day since I was old enough to sit at the table,” said Miller. “We used to have a lot of people over and everyone would bring the same thing.”

Many people will sit down to a plate of black-eyed peas and collard greens this Sunday, hoping for good luck and increasing fortune. In a time when traditions and customs are often tossed(9) aside, this one remains.

从公元前2000年开始，世界各处的人们就开始用各种传统和仪式来庆祝新年，但是很少传统能象狂吃大份黑眼豌豆和羽衣甘蓝这样被延续到现在。

很多有关新年的风俗都认为新年的第一天会影响之后的一整年。在南方，人们普遍认为在这一天吃黑眼豌豆和羽衣甘蓝会带来好运。

自制豌豆时，可以用很多种食物来搭配，但羽衣甘蓝是南方人最喜欢的。因为据说它可以带来好运和财富。

莫洛皮卡迪利大街自助餐厅的合伙经理加里·沃勒说：“新年这一天，我们能用掉40磅黑眼豌豆和60磅羽衣甘蓝，人们整天都在不停地点它们。它们在这一天比任何一天都受欢迎。”

麦克道尔格利茨家常餐厅已经为新年订购了充足的黑眼豌豆和羽衣甘蓝。

经理吉姆·李说：“很多人来了之后就点这两样作为主菜的配菜。一些人还要给家人带回去一些，所以我们必须保证储备充足。”

但是，如果你喜欢在家里庆祝新年，也可以自己做一顿好运晚餐。

麦克道尔居民夏洛特·米勒已经这样做了60年。每次她都用嫩波士顿烤猪臀肉搭配豌豆和甘蓝食用。

米勒说：“我已经67岁了，自从能够到桌子那年起，我记得妈妈每年都会做这道菜。我们总是请很多人来家里庆祝，每个人都会带来同样的东西。”

这周日，很多人会坐在一盘黑眼豌豆和羽衣甘蓝前面，祈求万事如意、财源滚滚。在这样一个传统和风俗逐渐淡漠的年代里，这个习俗却风采依然。