Practical Midwesterners aren’t particularly known for their superstitions – we may be much too pragmatic for them. But there’s something about the New Year that brings out the superstitious bits in all of us. After the year we just had, I think we could all use a little luck in the coming months and a New Year’s superstition in Wisconsin may be the way to do it.

Some say that Midwesterners like to enjoy pork and cabbage on New Year’s Day – something about the pig always shuffling forward, not back (signifying progress), and the green of the cabbage signaling wealth. The origins of this tradition in Germany and Austria do make it seem like something we’d be partial to here in Wisconsin, but it’s not a tradition I’ve seen in a lot of homes in the area.

Much more prevalent at New Year’s tables around the state seems to be herring. It’s a Wisconsin tradition, a New Year’s superstition, and one that you’re most likely to have experienced growing up in Wisconsin itself.

Scandinavian tradition says to eat herring at the stroke of midnight to ensure bounty and prosperity in the new year. Herring are silvery in color - like coins. They're also incredibly abundant in western Europe and that's meant to foretell abundance in the coming months.
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We don't get a lot of fresh herring here in Wisconsin, but jarred, pickled herring seems to grace most holiday tables.
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Though the tradition may have come to Wisconsin from Scandinavian ancestors, the fact that Ma Baensch's herring has been headquartered in Milwaukee since 1932 probably also helps the tradition thrive.
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The old superstition says to eat herring at the stroke of midnight, but most Wisconsinites just add it to their New Year's Day plates to partake in its supposed good luck.
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Catching herring was big business in parts of Europe and the fish were a large part of many coastal towns' economies.
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Though often incredibly abundant, herring migratory patterns are unpredictable, so that areas that had thrived on their herring haul some years would find themselves with none. The more superstitious folks saw the abundance or lack of herring as a divine message about something much bigger. Eating herring on the New Year was something of a prayer by the folks who counted on them as a profession for a good crop.
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The Scandinavians who immigrated to the central United States no longer had access to fresh herring. But the fatty fish lends itself well to pickling and jarring, so the food remained an important part of their diet and gave them a taste of home.
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Whether you believe in the luck, happiness and wealth the herring is said to portend probably depends on how superstitious you are. But either way, this is a fun New Year's superstition in Wisconsin to try.
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There you have it – the one Wisconsin food that needs to make it into your New Year’s plans if you want the next 12 months to provide all the luck you could ever need. There’s no greater Wisconsin tradition, and it plays the long-game.

Do you include herring in your New Year’s festivities? Do you believe in this New Year’s superstition in Wisconsin? What other foods do you eat to help ring in a better New Year?

If you’re looking to flex a little Wisconsin state pride, then you’ll want to check out 13 of the most beautiful places in the state that are better than anywhere else in the country. 

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New Year's Superstitions In Wisconsin

Meghan Kraft | November 09, 2019

Are there any other superstitions in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin is a part of the great American Midwest, which means it has a wealth of stories told by many and across quite a few years. It’s hard to put a finger on specifics, however. Superstitions in Wisconsin tend to take on the tinge of ghost stories and warning tales. Stories revolve around the Old Baraboo Inn, some are intrigued by the potentially dark history at Devil’s Lake State Park. Summerwind Mansion is whispered about in Land O’ Lakes, and the Riverside Cemetery in Appleton also has a resident ghost. Visit Brumder Mansion in Milwaukee for your best chance to see an apparition, and keep your eyes peeled for the Phantom Man of Highway 12.

What are the most popular traditions in Wisconsin?

Perhaps one of the most popular traditions in Wisconsin is the “Cannibal Sandwich.” This Germanic and Scandinavian treat is made with raw meat. Although it may not be one of the most popular in which to indulge, it’s still a well-known meal across the state. Snowshoe baseball is also a fantastic Wisconsinite tradition, and there’s nothing more synonymous with the state than the “Cheeseheads” moniker.

What is the most bizarre superstition in Wisconsin?

Perhaps one of the strangest beliefs in Wisconsin surrounds Ed Gein. The famed serial killer was buried in the same cemetery where he dug up the bodies of women during his active years, and it is said that one of his victims actually roams the cemetery at night. We don’t blame her. Who would want to be buried forever with your murderer? Terrifying, Wisconsin.

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