In the Deep South, New Year’s Day (also known as “The Day Hank Williams Died”), is defined by a culinary ritual designed to manifest a prosperous year ahead. At the heart of this tradition is a “mess” of collard greens, whose broad, verdant leaves are more than just a seasonal harvest—they are symbolic “greenbacks” representing the financial wealth hoped for in the coming months.
A traditional Southern New Year’s meal is a carefully constructed edible prayer for the future:
Collard Greens: Represent paper money.…