Immediately, I thought of my Mother’s insistence that we have Corned Beef and Cabbage for New Years’ Day dinner. She said it would bring us luck in the New Year. I was never a fan of the meal and felt that I was lucky to only have to eat it once a year. Since I’ve been on my own, that was one tradition I didn’t keep.
This question gave me the opportunity to ask why corned beef and cabbage as a New Year’s tradition? This tradition came from my Irish heritage on my mother’s side. According to 23 & Me, 4% of my DNA comes from Ireland. I haven’t found the Irish ancestors yet, but give me time!
Corned beef was a staple in the Irish American households in the late 19th and early 20th centuries because it was more affordable than the traditional choice of ham. In Ireland the New Year’s dish consisted of ham and cabbage. Pork had been the meat of choice in Ireland because they raised more pigs than cattle. When the Irish immigrants came to the United States, they found pork to be more expensive than beef; therefore, they adopted the alternative of corned beef.
I have a Cabbage and Onion recipe that I enjoy. I might just see if I can pair it with a Ham on New Year’s to celebrate my Irish Heritage!
Corned beef, oh my, I ate a lot of it in Puerto Rico. Stewed Corned Beef over white rice was my favorite.