The centuries-old Pennsylvania Dutch custom symbolizes prosperity and good fortune, with roots dating back to 1802 and strong cultural significance in German-American communities.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the cumin, caraway and mustard seeds in a small skillet and heat over low heat until fragrant. Remove from the heat and allow to cool completely before transferring to a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. Grind to a powder. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in the paprika, salt and white pepper.

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As we enter 2026, we’ll be looking for all the good luck we can find. Here in Pennsylvania Dutch country, the tradition of eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year’s

Enjoy a pork and sauerkraut meal in Central PA for good luck & prosperity in 2026. Discover local spots offering delicious feasts to kickstart the year!

Warm Lentil Salad In a pot or Dutch oven over medium heat, heat the olive oil and saute the onion and carrots for 3-4 minutes. Add the garlic and saute for about a minute, then stir in the tomato paste for about a minute.

Sauerkraut was also a cold-weather food in the 19th century, so it would have been an obvious item to pair with pork for New Years. In time, the meal evolved into a custom and tradition, Gerhart said.

So here’s why we eat pork and sauerkraut as well as other good-luck foods. Like many other cultures, the Pennsylvania Dutch believe eating pork on New Year’s Day brings good luck because pigs root around with their snouts in a forward motion. After all, we want to move forward, not backward, in the new year.