Pork and Sauerkraut

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killdeer's avatar

killdeer

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Jan 1, 2010 1:22 AM
it's the New Year...there is something way back in my memory bank that says that we must have pork and sauerkraut to start the New Year...

What is the origin of this tradition?
How many others follow this ageless culinary delight?
Jan 1, 2010 1:22am
darbypitcher22's avatar

darbypitcher22

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8,000 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:25 AM
I'll eat the pork; not the sauerkraut
Jan 1, 2010 1:25am
T

tuskytuffguy

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615 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:31 AM
Gonna be Kraut in my house! If it's gonna be good kraut, it's gotta be Sweet Willie's in a bag. None of that canned shit. Add a can of beer and some brown sugar, and I'm in heaven! Although, my stomach and ass will punish me for it.
Jan 1, 2010 1:31am
killdeer's avatar

killdeer

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Jan 1, 2010 1:33 AM
^^^agree with that...canned sauerkraut is like cabbage in water.
Beer is good.
Jan 1, 2010 1:33am
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GoPens

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2,339 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:35 AM
kraut not allowed to stink up my house.
Jan 1, 2010 1:35am
killdeer's avatar

killdeer

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Jan 1, 2010 1:38 AM
^^^apparently it imbues good luck...that is the deal...!
Jan 1, 2010 1:38am
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BRF

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Jan 1, 2010 1:41 AM
It's our German heritage here.

Bring it all on.
Jan 1, 2010 1:41am
killdeer's avatar

killdeer

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Jan 1, 2010 1:43 AM
it is already in the Crock Pot............
Jan 1, 2010 1:43am
salto's avatar

salto

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2,611 posts
Jan 1, 2010 4:59 AM
Had brats with mustard and kraut....awesome!
Jan 1, 2010 4:59am
believer's avatar

believer

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8,153 posts
Jan 1, 2010 6:38 AM
Pork and bagged kraut here too! A little beer and brown sugar...ummmmmmmm.

The stinkier the better. The German line in me insists.

Put a little kraut on top of those buttered mashed taters too please!
Jan 1, 2010 6:38am
J

jm71witmr

Member

85 posts
Jan 1, 2010 7:52 AM
Having our kraut and brats today. Am not a fan of sauerkraut. Its a tradition and my wife is in charge of kitchen : ).
Happy New Year- all.
Jan 1, 2010 7:52am
G

Gobuckeyes1

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497 posts
Jan 1, 2010 8:51 AM
Just got done putting it in the crock pot. Pork, potatoes, kraut, apples, beer. Should be ready by kickoff of the Rose Bowl.

Definitely a tradition for my family, and a good way to celebrate my German heritage and hopefully bring some good luck for the new year!
Jan 1, 2010 8:51am
Apple's avatar

Apple

Prost!

2,620 posts
Jan 1, 2010 9:03 AM
Getting ready to put a pork loin, kruat, potatoes in the crock right now... kind of wish I had thought of the apples!

I'll need that good luck ...lots of goals and hopeful improvements are going to happen this year.
Jan 1, 2010 9:03am
H

heinieg71

Junior Member

18 posts
Jan 1, 2010 9:09 AM
Both sets of my grandparents, both very German, said that you have pork and sauerkraut for good luck in the coming year. We do it every year. Have a pork loin ready to go on the grill and kraut ready to go as well. Awesome.
Jan 1, 2010 9:09am
G

Gobuckeyes1

Senior Member

497 posts
Jan 1, 2010 9:25 AM
Apple wrote: Getting ready to put a pork loin, kruat, potatoes in the crock right now... kind of wish I had thought of the apples!

I'll need that good luck ...lots of goals and hopeful improvements are going to happen this year.
I hear ya...plans for this upcoming year include resigning from my current job, selling our house, relocating for my wife's job, and the birth of my son (we already have a 3 year old daughter). All of this will be happening within the next six months. Also, my brother is headed to Afghanistan and they are having a child as well, so I will be standing in for him as much as possible since he farms 150 acres and needs someone to do the work for him while he is away.

I think I'm going to eat as much sauerkraut as I can today... :)
Jan 1, 2010 9:25am
Writerbuckeye's avatar

Writerbuckeye

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4,745 posts
Jan 1, 2010 9:53 AM
believer wrote: Pork and bagged kraut here too! A little beer and brown sugar...ummmmmmmm.

The stinkier the better. The German line in me insists.

Put a little kraut on top of those buttered mashed taters too please!
A man after my own heart :P

The pork & kraut are in the crock pot awaiting kickoff of the Rose Bowl game.

As to the origin: I've always been told it's to bring good luck in the New Year. Here's a brief description I found:

NEW YEAR'S DAY TRADITIONS

Pork & Sauerkraut are a main dish for New Years Day in the German heritage, as pigs are considered good luck charm symbols and cabbage leaves are symbolic of money, thus having pork and Sauerkraut are felt to be the best way to pave the way for the New Year. This goes back to the distant past when farm families who had a pig felt they were lucky enough to have one to feed their families during the winter. Pigs thus became good luck charms and were also used then for saving money in piggy banks. In German one says "ich habe Schwein gehabt," or I have had pig," which means colloquially that: I have had good luck!" Little pigs of cake or candy (marzipan - almond paste is popular) are also produced. The custom really demonstrates the ancient rural origins of this particular custom.

This graph is from the University of Cincinnati library on traditions. Scroll down to the last one. http://www.libraries.uc.edu/libraries/arb/ger_americana/traditions.html
Jan 1, 2010 9:53am
B

BCSbunk

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972 posts
Jan 1, 2010 11:59 AM
That is what I had last night and will today. Just a tradition I adopted from my parents.
Jan 1, 2010 11:59am
C

cat_lover

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2,388 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:02 PM
Rueben sandwich last night. Pork Loin and Kraut today. German heritage here as well.
Jan 1, 2010 1:02pm
H

hootie44

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11 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:07 PM
"If you've ever seen a pig, all four feet are pointing forward, so it's going forward into the New Year."

the "good luck" part of eating the black-eyed peas goes like this: if you start the New Year dining in humility (eating the peas), you will become more prosperous as the year progresses. Actually, black-eyed peas aren’t peas at all but legumes, a member of the bean family. Some serve the peas with greens and cornbread. According to tradition, the peas represent coins, the greens symbolize paper money, and the cornbread stands for gold. I've heard that some cooks add a penny to the cooking pot; the person who gets the dished up coin will be showered with good fortune all year long.
Jan 1, 2010 1:07pm
M

miller45452003

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673 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:08 PM
5 1/2 lb. pork loin, kraut, apples, beer, brown sugar all in the slow cooker now....mmmmm. Mashed potatoes and applesauce to go with it. Ready in time to watch the domination of the Ducks!!
Jan 1, 2010 1:08pm
royal_k's avatar

royal_k

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4,423 posts
Jan 1, 2010 1:20 PM
miller45452003 wrote: 5 1/2 lb. pork loin, kraut, apples, beer, brown sugar all in the slow cooker now....mmmmm. Mashed potatoes and applesauce to go with it. Ready in time to watch the domination of the Ducks!!
Got that right....The Buckeyes will dominate the Ducks!
Jan 1, 2010 1:20pm
P

Preacher

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218 posts
Jan 1, 2010 2:33 PM
Ribs and Kraut. Watching the Buckeyes go Duck Hunting.
Jan 1, 2010 2:33pm
A

Angel

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363 posts
Jan 1, 2010 3:05 PM
It isn't New Years without Pork and Sauerkraut!

I can't remember a New Years without it!

I smell it cooking in the crock pot now. MMMMMMM........

Can't wait. Probably eat it during the Ohio State game.
Jan 1, 2010 3:05pm
D

dancinbear

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236 posts
Jan 1, 2010 3:18 PM
Our family has always done corned beef on New Years. This year I'll be at Frickers for the game so I'll have a BLT and coleslaw....that counts right?
Jan 1, 2010 3:18pm
killdeer's avatar

killdeer

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Jan 1, 2010 3:24 PM
^^^take the cabbage anyway you can get it!
Jan 1, 2010 3:24pm