Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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Ring In the New Year at the Annual Black-Eyed Pea Dinner a STAFF REPORT New Year's Day is a holiday full of traditions and can be traced to the Civil War. In the early 1860s, black-eyed superstitions — especially in the South. As the new year peas were only fed to livestock, but when the Union armies came through the South and burned all of the other crops, the dawns, many people consider it important to do what they can to ensure that it will be a good one. One of the most peas were eaten out of necessity. The drought resistance also common ways to do this is through the food served on made the peas a popular crop in difficult years. Traditionally New Year's Day. In Fayetteville. the superstitious (and the these peas are intended as a symbol for prosperity in the hungry) can cover all their bases at one of the long-standing coming year, representing coins and swelling in size as they cook. There are also several sayings that are associated with traditions; the Black-Eyed Pea Dinner. Truly, it is as much this belief in lucky peas centering around the idea that the about tradition, friendship and service to the community, act of eating humbly on New Year's promising better food in but the "lucky" foods add an element of fun to the day. the year to come. One common phrase is "Eat poor on New The Black-Eyed Pea dinner began in the '70s with Sherriff Year's, and eat fat the rest of the year." Black-eyed peas are Ottis F. Jones but in recent years has been carried on by usually prepared with pork, which is considered lucky because Register of Deeds Lee Warren as his way of giving back to pigs are known to root forward when they forage. the community. Collard greens are another southern New Year's tradition "The menu includes a great traditional southern meal of Don't miss the New Year's Day Black-Eyed pea aimed at bringing luck and prosperity to a family. Collards had black-eyed peas, collard greens, candied yams, bar-b-que, dinner at the Crown. tea and coffee and it is all topped off with some great live a rise in popularity thanks to the Civil War, too. The Union Army left behind these crops, and considered them animal Southern Gospel music. Bring the kids out to see Truman from Kidsville News!" said Warren. "It is a lot of fun seeing old friends every year food, but they are packed with valuable nutrients. As far as bringing prosperity on New Year's Day, the collard's symbolism is quite easy to see. Thanks to their leafy green and making sure that no one has to cook on New Year's Day." The tradition of eating black-eyed peas on New Year's Day goes back many years appearance they represent paper money. Green is also a color symbolic of hope and in the South, but it may have originated in even older cultures. In Jewish culture, growth, both valuable traits for a new year. in Babylonia circa 500 AD, black-eyed peas were commonly eaten as good luck The dinner starts at 11 a.m. on New Year's Day, at the Crown and is free to the symbols to celebrate Rosh Hashana, which is the Jewish New Year. This tradition public. The dinner grows every year and it is a great way to meet people from the likely made its way to the southern United States through the Sephardic Jews. This community. Not only will the food be delicious, but also the fellowship and friendship group immigrated to Georgia in the 1730s. The popularity of these peas in general will be an incredible way to start the new year. Grinding of the Greens by ERINN CRIDER Recycling Christmas trees has many benefits for the entire Every December 25th, families gather around the Christmas community. Firstly, this gift to the garden provides mulch for tree and unwrap presents. It is after the Christmas celebrations that Cape Fear Botanical Garden receives its gifts. Every year, use on their flower beds and on the paths that wind through the members of the community bring their live Christmas trees to the garden. Secondly, it disposes of all the Christmas trees families no longer need. It keeps all of the recyclable wood out of the landfills garden where PWC, the Fayetteville Public Works Commission, and returns it to nature, which is great for the environment. The grinds them into mulch. This valuable fresh mulch is then given to the garden for use on their many flower beds and paths. This process also leaves an incredible smell of fresh pine in the garden is great for the local landfills, the environment and is a wonderful after everything has been turned to mulch, which is enjoyable for "green gift" for the garden. This year, the Grinding of the Greens everyone who works there, the volunteers at the grinding and takes place on Jan. 11. anyone who visits the gardens. George Quigley serves on the Board of Directors at the garden Mulch, is a layer of any material placed over soil. This and is a volunteer there as well. "On the given day, PWC brings covering can serve multiple purposes. In this case, it is Each year, Cape Fear Botanical Garden and chippers and lines them up to grind the trees into small chips," aesthetically appealing. It also retains water and conserves PWC team up to recycle Christmas Trees at said Quigley. "It is noisy and exciting. We have hot chocolate and the Grinding of the Greens. moisture in the soil below it. This is great for plants and means donuts — the event has a fun carnival feel to it." less water goes to waste through evaporation when plants This Grinding of the Greens is particularly special because it is the 20th anniversary. are watered. As the plant matter in mulch naturally decomposes it also serves as a For the past 19 years PWC has been working with the Cape Fear Botanical Garden fertilizer for the soil it rests upon. to organize the Grinding of the Greens. This year the City of Fayetteville and Duke "I'm glad it is not disposed of in a regular landfill," said Quigley. "The trees take up Progress Energy are also partners in this community event. Starting shortly after a lot of space and they break down more slowly in a place with so much methane. This Christmas, city residents can put their undecorated live Christmas trees out on the curb saves room in the landfills and puts the end product to good use." for pick up. Undecorated trees should be placed by the curb for pickup like normal Thanks to the generosity of PWC and its partners in Grinding of the Greens the trash. Residents who do not get city trash pick up can bring their trees to the Garden's beautiful plants at the Cape Fear Botanical Garden will receive all of these benefits from fire tower any time before grinding day on Jan 11. unwanted Christmas trees. There are a few things that need to be done to a tree before it can be picked up. Find out more about this program and other programs at Cape Fear Remove all ornaments and lights from the tree. The Garden is only interested in Botanical Garden at www.capefearbg.org. Learn more about PWC mulch from trees, not broken glass shards. Before the tree makes it to the shredder it is and the many ways it promotes energy ERINN CRIDER, Staff Writer. COMimportant to make sure there are no forgotten ornaments — for the safety of everyone conservation in the community at www. MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweekly. involved. faypwc.com. com. Focus on the Family 20 Countdown Magazine Adventures in Odyssey Contest & Request Line: 910-764-1073 8 DECEMBER 25-31, 2013 Keeping the Main Thing ... the Main Thing. visit us online www.christian107.com WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM