We all have our own traditions. In our families. In our groups of friends. And, in our cities and towns. Despite living in such a culturally diverse state, we Pennsylvanians also have plenty of traditions that are unique to PA. Here are 10 Pennsylvania traditions that you’ll totally get if you hail from the Keystone state (and if you’re visiting, we recommend embracing the traditions so you can feel as much like a local as is possible.)

1. We ring in the New Year by dropping wrenches, mushrooms, and Hershey’s kisses and…
Facebook/Hershey’s New Year’s Eve
Just about everyone counts down to the ball drop on New Year's Eve. But, we Pennsylvanians have a tradition of our own. Numerous small towns drop what their known for. A Hershey's kiss in Hershey. A wrench in Mechanicsburg. And a mushroom in Kennett Square.
2. Eat a traditional New Year’s Day meal.
Flickr/Jim
There's only one way to kick off a new year in PA. And, that's with the traditional New Year's Day meal of pork and sauerkraut. The meal, according to Dutch tradition, is said to bring prosperity to you in the new year.
3. No one goes to school on the first day of hunting season.
Flickr/ellenm1
Thanksgiving weekend is always an extra long one for us Pennsylvanians. That's because the Monday after Thanksgiving is sort of a holiday in the state. It's the first day of hunting season, which means no school for most kids since the family is probably out hunting!
4. We shop at mud sales and…
Flickr/Lisa G.
Those who live in or travel to Lancaster have been to at least one mud sale. Mud sales benefit our local volunteer fire departments. Local Amish residents sell their goods, including buggies, antiques, outdoor equipment, and even stunning handmade quilts.
5. 100 mile yard sales.
Flickr/Mark Goebel
Yard sales are the norm in PA. But, one stands apart from them all. The 100 mile yard sale that winds through Cameron, Clearfield, and Elk Counties. The hugely popular yard sale is typically held on a weekend in July. You never know what you've find along the route.

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6. Cookie table are all the rage at weddings in Southwestern PA and…
Flickr/Jeremy Crantek
Every wedding reception, at least if you live in Southwestern PA, boasts a cookie table. The cookie table features an assortment of cookies and is, without a doubt, one of the most popular parts of a reception.
7. Celebrate special events at fire halls.
Facebook/Garden City Fire Hall
And where do we hold those wedding receptions and other celebrations? Why, at the local fire hall, of course. It promises plenty of room and great acoustics. What more could we want?
8. In some parts of PA, we cool off with the water from…
Flickr/Susan Sermoneta
Fire hydrants. Yep. If you've ever been to Philly in the summer, you've likely seen kids splashing and cooling off in the water gushing out of a fire hydrant.
9. Some of us eat scrapple for breakfast and…
Flickr/Sharon
Pennsylvanians have a love hate relationship with scrapple. Some of us love it. And, some of us hate it. Those of us who love it find it the ideal way to start the day.
10. We can’t pass up shoofly pie for dessert.
Flickr/Anna Screech
PA is all about tasty desserts. Not too big of a surprise, though, is it? After all, we've got shoofly pie, Tasty Kake, Hershey's candy.

What other Pennsylvania traditions would you add to this list? Share in the comments! Then, take a look at our article about Pennsylvania slang. These 13 phrases will make you swear we Pennsylvanians have our own language.

If you want to learn more about Pennsylvania culture and traditions, we recommend taking a look at our coverage of the many fantastic festivals in Pennsylvania. Our state offers so many unique opportunities to celebrate many things ranging from fireflies to the culture of the Pennsylvania Dutch.

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Pennsylvania Pride

Sara Dager | December 30, 2022

Where can I eat like the locals in Pennsylvania? 

The best place to find yourself eating like locals is at those hole-in-the-walls that might not look like much, and luckily, there are a few hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Pennsylvania that are fantastic, like:

 

What are some things you can only do in Pennsylvania? 

Pennsylvania is such a fun and unique state, it's the perfect place for travelers and even locals struggle to find themselves bored. There are many things you can only do in Pennsylvania, such as:

 

What are some interesting habits that Pennsylvanians have? 

Every state's locals have their own interesting quirks, and it is no different in the Keystone State! Some of the interesting habits that Pennsylvanians have include:

  • They love to eat scrapple
  • They make pothole-dodging an Olympic sport
  • You may find them racing lawnmowers, or taking in a lawnmower race
  • They refer to the state as PA

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