HARRISBURG, Pa. — New Year’s Day in Central Pennsylvania is about ringing in a new year, and digging in to both food and long-standing traditions that bring people together.
In much of Pennsylvania, the new year begins with a traditional meal of pork and sauerkraut. The dish is served at family gatherings and firehouses across the region, including the Chambers Hill Fire Company in Swatara Township, where the custom has been kept alive for generations.
“People eat pork because a pig goes forward,” said Mary Klaus, president of the Chambers Hill Fire Company. “And so you want the pig to go forward. You want your year to go forward. People eat the sauerkraut, because cabbage brings you good luck and prosperity and money.”…