Popcorn and New Year's Eve

Described by a ten year old boy in 1895, the practice was called old fashioned in a 1914 magazine article.

Some food history zoom talks for January listed below and in the Calendar.




New Year's Eve popcorn growing and with candy in 1895 -

One day Willie said to Harry, “let us get some pop-corn from papa and plant it.” They did so and they took great care of it, for they wanted to have some popcorn on New Years Eve, and they wanted their sister Minnie to made some candy and put popcorn in it. When the corn was ready to pick the boys picked it, and put it away in a place to dry. When New Years Eve came, they had a jolly time, and their sister made some candy while the baby Gertie watched her.
By Walter Robinson. Aged 10 years.
The Teachers’ Institute. March 1895, p164

1914
Th’ ole fashion o’ keepin’ open house on New Year’s Day an’ servin’ popcorn an’ elderberry wine has passed away along with th’ homemade doughnut an’ th’ crocheted motto. ..
The American Magazine. January 1914, p70

Corn Husking by Eastman Johnson (1824-1906) 1860 painting in the Everson Museum of Art. HERE. Probably just regular corn, not popcorn with the smaller hard kernel.

Blog posts about the many traditions on New Years Eve HERE

UPCOMING TALKS deleted

CALENDAR OF VIRTUAL FOOD HISTORY TALKS HERE

©2024 Patricia Bixler Reber
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