For many Ohioans, welcoming the new year means eating a New Year’s Day meal that will bring you wealth, luck and happiness for the future. If you believe in this superstition (or you’ve just gotten used to this traditional dish), then you’ve likely heard some interesting stories about why you eat it. Pork and sauerkraut is the most common New Year’s superstition in Ohio, and the proposed explanations as to why we observe it are almost mind-boggling.
It’s not uncommon to find this iconic dish on the tables of Midwest homes on New Year’s Day: Pork and sauerkraut.
Jim/Flickr This popular German dish has become a lasting Ohio favorite, regardless of the season, though.
It’s no secret that pork comes from an animal rich in fat. Consequently, the fat of a pig is thought to symbolize riches.
Isriya Paireepairit/Flickr Superstition also claims that pork brings good luck because when a pig roots for food, he does so by pushing forward. This is believed to symbolize that you will make progress in your life during the new year.
Cabbage, the main ingredient in sauerkraut, is thought to symbolize paper money, meaning that if you eat it you increase your chances for gaining more wealth in the new year.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr On the practical side, it was also an ideal side to the pork for New Year’s because of the timing. After the cabbage was harvested in the fall, it took up to two months to ferment.
Black-eyed peas are also commonly added to this meal. Some speculate that they’re good luck to eat because they resemble coins.
Pat Kight/Flickr They are also believed to be one of the foods mentioned in the Jewish Talmud to eat on Rosh Hashanah (the new year) to ensure good fortune. However, black eyed peas were simply confused with fenugreek seeds. (But it couldn’t hurt to pile them on your plate anyway, right?)
What do you think of this popular New Year’s superstition in Ohio? Do you eat this meal on New Year’s Day? Share your thoughts, New Year’s traditions, and experiences with us!
Jim/Flickr
This popular German dish has become a lasting Ohio favorite, regardless of the season, though.
Isriya Paireepairit/Flickr
Superstition also claims that pork brings good luck because when a pig roots for food, he does so by pushing forward. This is believed to symbolize that you will make progress in your life during the new year.
Wally Gobetz/Flickr
On the practical side, it was also an ideal side to the pork for New Year’s because of the timing. After the cabbage was harvested in the fall, it took up to two months to ferment.
Pat Kight/Flickr
They are also believed to be one of the foods mentioned in the Jewish Talmud to eat on Rosh Hashanah (the new year) to ensure good fortune. However, black eyed peas were simply confused with fenugreek seeds. (But it couldn’t hurt to pile them on your plate anyway, right?)
Ohio is a quirky state with an unusual culture. If you call it home, you just might carry on some of Ohio’s most unusual traditions.
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New Year’s Superstition In Ohio November 03, 2019 Nikki Rhoades Are there any other superstitions in Ohio? The Buckeye State is quirky in the best possible way. Long-time residents can doubtlessly tell you about Ohio superstitions, as they are most definitely not uncommon. While growing up in Ohio, we heard about all sorts of hauntings and local legends. However, when we reached college, well… they grew more abundant. Hopkins Hall at Ohio State is home to a ghostly handprint that is said to reappear every time it is covered up, and many students maintain that a stroll down the Long Walk will result in a marriage proposal if you and your beloved don’t cross paths with anyone as you listen to the sound of Orton Tower’s bells ringing. What are the most popular traditions in Ohio? There are a number of traditions in Ohio, though they vary greatly depending on which part of the state you call home. Some carry a buckeye in their pocket as a good luck charm, and others spell out O-H-I-O with their arms for every embarrassing family photo. The most universal Ohio tradition is one that’s rampant throughout the Midwest – cornhole at every family gathering! What is the most bizarre superstition in Ohio? As bizarre as Ohioans can be, our superstitions are rather tame compared to most other states’. Perhaps the most unusual belief Ohioans have added credence to over the years is the alleged Cleveland sports curse. The curse asserted that major league professional sports teams in Cleveland were barred from winning, and the curse actually seemed to be somewhat legitimate for… well, just over five decades. Between 1964 and 2016, no Cleveland sports team won any sort of championship. For nearly 150 seasons, locals rooted for teams that they were ultimately certain would not win. However, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals turned the curse on its head. At this point, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors… and the local curse, it seems.
The OIYS Visitor Center
New Year’s Superstition In Ohio
November 03, 2019
Nikki Rhoades
Are there any other superstitions in Ohio? The Buckeye State is quirky in the best possible way. Long-time residents can doubtlessly tell you about Ohio superstitions, as they are most definitely not uncommon. While growing up in Ohio, we heard about all sorts of hauntings and local legends. However, when we reached college, well… they grew more abundant. Hopkins Hall at Ohio State is home to a ghostly handprint that is said to reappear every time it is covered up, and many students maintain that a stroll down the Long Walk will result in a marriage proposal if you and your beloved don’t cross paths with anyone as you listen to the sound of Orton Tower’s bells ringing. What are the most popular traditions in Ohio? There are a number of traditions in Ohio, though they vary greatly depending on which part of the state you call home. Some carry a buckeye in their pocket as a good luck charm, and others spell out O-H-I-O with their arms for every embarrassing family photo. The most universal Ohio tradition is one that’s rampant throughout the Midwest – cornhole at every family gathering! What is the most bizarre superstition in Ohio? As bizarre as Ohioans can be, our superstitions are rather tame compared to most other states’. Perhaps the most unusual belief Ohioans have added credence to over the years is the alleged Cleveland sports curse. The curse asserted that major league professional sports teams in Cleveland were barred from winning, and the curse actually seemed to be somewhat legitimate for… well, just over five decades. Between 1964 and 2016, no Cleveland sports team won any sort of championship. For nearly 150 seasons, locals rooted for teams that they were ultimately certain would not win. However, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals turned the curse on its head. At this point, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors… and the local curse, it seems.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Buckeye State is quirky in the best possible way. Long-time residents can doubtlessly tell you about Ohio superstitions, as they are most definitely not uncommon. While growing up in Ohio, we heard about all sorts of hauntings and local legends. However, when we reached college, well… they grew more abundant. Hopkins Hall at Ohio State is home to a ghostly handprint that is said to reappear every time it is covered up, and many students maintain that a stroll down the Long Walk will result in a marriage proposal if you and your beloved don’t cross paths with anyone as you listen to the sound of Orton Tower’s bells ringing.
What are the most popular traditions in Ohio?
There are a number of traditions in Ohio, though they vary greatly depending on which part of the state you call home. Some carry a buckeye in their pocket as a good luck charm, and others spell out O-H-I-O with their arms for every embarrassing family photo. The most universal Ohio tradition is one that’s rampant throughout the Midwest – cornhole at every family gathering!
What is the most bizarre superstition in Ohio?
As bizarre as Ohioans can be, our superstitions are rather tame compared to most other states’. Perhaps the most unusual belief Ohioans have added credence to over the years is the alleged Cleveland sports curse. The curse asserted that major league professional sports teams in Cleveland were barred from winning, and the curse actually seemed to be somewhat legitimate for… well, just over five decades. Between 1964 and 2016, no Cleveland sports team won any sort of championship. For nearly 150 seasons, locals rooted for teams that they were ultimately certain would not win. However, Game 7 of the 2016 NBA Finals turned the curse on its head. At this point, the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors… and the local curse, it seems.
