Pigs! Who would've thought that Germany would bring me so much joy because of their little good luck symbol? If you're in Bonn, you might think that symbol is a golden Beethoven statue because they are everywhere, but the German symbol for luck is actually a pig!
I've been collecting mini pig figurines my entire life. Sometimes, they come with a little detail card that explains how a Glucksschwein is a good luck symbol and to carry it with you the way some people carry a rabbit's foot. Since I've always been obsessed with pigs, these symbols go beyond a luck symbol for me and are also my kitsch of choice and never fail to bring a smile to my face :)
Whilst visiting Germany, I was able to find pigs at most gift shops and sometimes embedded into the city's art. For an extra dose of fun, I visited a wild park on a field trip with students and there was a pig pen (habitat) where I spent some time admiring wild boar.
A Brief History
According to The House of Good Fortune, "During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the pig was a popular good luck charm in...Germany... [symbolizing] good fortune and prosperity. The practice of collecting coins in a “piggy bank” reinforces the association between pigs and wealth. This belief traces its roots back to a time when having a pig meant having a good source of meat and having meat meant that your family would not starve" (1). Moreover, pigs have been spotted in imagery since the medieval period, on board games and playing cards.
But, it's not just regular farm pigs. Wild boars can also be found in imagery throughout the country. The earliest Germanic tribes carried trinkets with wild boars as a "talisman for protection in battle" (2). Even Beowulf makes references to the protective power of boar imagery. In real life, this extended to boars being imprinted and cast into protective battle gear.
In modern tradition, Germans often share marzipan pigs with one another for the new year as a gesture of good fortune for the year ahead.
Glorious items from the gift shop! Obviously, I purchased a few sparkling boa-tastic pigs for me and my sister. Unfortunately, I did not purchase the book ends and I still kinda regret it.
Wild Boar at the Rolansdeck Wildpark and Boar Sculpture at the Drashenfels!
Porcine Graffit Art in Berlin
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