Pittsburgh New Year's Traditions to Start Now

Add a touch of magic to your New Year's Eve or Day! Our team loves to commemorate the fresh start by celebrating with charming customs. Here are our favorite traditions - Pittsburgh or personal - that you can start now.

Sauerkraut, Kielbasa, and Pierogis 

Amber's family tradition is to have a meal of sauerkraut and kielbasa with pierogis as their New Year’s dinner. It is just the right comfort food for welcoming the winter ahead. 

When Monica was growing up every year her dad would cook pork and sauerkraut as eating it is said to give you good luck for the next year. His specialty was kielbasa slow cooked in sauerkraut, and she hated sauerkraut! She would eat just a tiny sliver of cabbage with the kielbasa to get her good luck covered for the year.

New Year's Day Walks

Kelly S loves taking a long solo walk on New Year’s Day to reflect on the previous year, and set intentions for the year to come.

Amber's family also enjoys a leisurely stroll through the neighborhood and the community park nearby. Maybe she can even get her teenager to join along this year :)

Yearly Mantra

Monica likes to set an intention for the year by picking a word or mantra. The word is something that she wants to embody and welcome into her life. She's started just a couple years ago and has had experiences where the word she chose was manifested throughout the year.  Try it this year, you can share your mantra or keep it to yourself, whatever feels right to you.

New Year's Pretzel

Kelly Y celebrates with a New Years pretzel.  Which is actually like a breakfast danish not a typical pretzel. It’s supposed to bring good luck.  Her family also believed you should tear your piece off rather than cut it.

Banging Pots and Pans

Kelly Y also bang pots and pans outside at midnight!  Monica and Amber grew up doing this together at Amber's parent's house.  Hearing the neighbors join in is always a great memory.