I grew up in the country in Arkansas, ate chitlins. But, I don't recall eating them at New Years day. We would only have them when we killed hogs and we sure were not doing that during the Christmas to New Year's Day holiday. They were soaked in brine for a couple of weeks, with at least one change of water, before being eaten.

I even asked my 90+ year old aunt about this a couple of years ago. And she does not recall having them for New Year's Day either.

When/where did the connection to New Year's start???

toot