Hoppin’ John is the traditional Southern U.S. New Year’s dish associated with black-eyed peas and rice.
The dish usually combines black-eyed peas with rice, onions, and pork, although recipes differ by region and household. It is commonly served with greens, which are symbolically linked to money, while black-eyed peas represent luck or coins in New Year folklore.
Hoppin’ John is part of the foodways of the American South and is closely connected with African American culinary traditions. Its exact origin story is debated, and related rice-and-pea dishes appear across the Atlantic world and Caribbean.
A common follow-up custom is eating leftovers on January 2, sometimes called “skippin’ Jenny,” to demonstrate thrift and encourage continued prosperity. The symbolism is cultural tradition, not a guaranteed prediction of fortune.