Actually Good Luck! The “Pig” Motif of Wealth, Prosperity, and Abundance
Why Are Pigs Considered Good Luck? Their Symbolism of Fortune, Wealth, and Prosperity and Its Origins
Many people may think of pigs simply as common livestock or animals raised for meat.
However, around the world, pigs are cherished as symbols of good luck, wealth, and prosperity.
In Germany and Austria, in particular, pigs are cherished as lucky charms that bring good fortune, while in China and South Korea, they are also associated with wealth, prosperity, and abundance.
On the other hand, their status varies greatly depending on religion and region, with pork consumption prohibited in some cases.
This article explains why pigs are considered lucky animals, exploring the history and beliefs of various regions, as well as the amulets and ornaments that have been used in practice.
Why Pigs Are Considered Symbols of Good Luck and Wealth
The reason pigs are considered lucky charms is rooted in their long history of being closely connected to people’s livelihoods and wealth.
While pigs are often depicted as cute animals today, they were once important livestock that supported people’s livelihoods.
Common Meanings Associated with Pigs
- Good Luck: In Germany and Austria, pigs are used as lucky charms to wish for happiness in the new year.
- Wealth and Fortune: In China and South Korea, pigs are known as animals representing wealth and prosperity.
- Abundance: Because they provided food as livestock, they became associated with a life of plenty.
- Fertility and Procreation: Because they give birth to many offspring at once, they are associated with fertility and the prosperity of future generations.
- Savings: Piggy banks in the shape of pigs have become familiar symbols of saving money.
Raising Pigs Was Linked to Prosperity
Pigs have long been raised for their meat.
Owning livestock not only ensured a food supply but also provided wealth through sale or exchange.
The Natural History Museum in Nuremberg, Germany, also highlights how owning pigs was historically linked to food, offspring, and prosperity.
Furthermore, because pigs give birth to multiple offspring at once, an increasing number of livestock was also associated with prosperity.
This connection to daily life is one of the reasons pigs are viewed as symbols of good luck and wealth.
Why Pigs Are Considered Symbols of Good Luck in Germany
In Germany, a pig that brings good luck is called a “Glücksschwein.”
In German, Glück means “good luck,” and Schwein means “pig.”
Pigs are also given as gifts to wish for happiness and prosperity in the new year and remain widely cherished today.
The German Phrase “You Had a Pig” Means Good Luck
German has an expression that links good luck with pigs.
- Schwein gehabt: Means “You were lucky” or “You had good luck.”
- Du hast Schwein gehabt!: Means “You were lucky!”
In German, the word Schwein can sometimes be used colloquially to mean good luck.
One theory about the origin of this expression is that in medieval competitions, a piglet was given as a consolation prize to those who performed poorly.
Although the recipient lost the competition, they received a piglet that could provide food or serve as valuable livestock. Therefore, they were considered lucky in the end.
Glücksschwein Given at the New Year
In Germany, it is customary to give small pig-shaped ornaments or sweets to mark the new year.
A popular example is a small pig made of marzipan, a confection made with almonds.
Some Glücksschwein combine pigs with other lucky motifs.
- Pig and Four-Leaf Clover: A combination of two symbols of good luck.
- Pig and Coin: A combination symbolizing prosperity and wealth.
- Pig and Horseshoe: A combination of two well-known European symbols of good luck.
- Pig and Chimney Sweep: A combination of two lucky charms cherished in German-speaking countries.
In this way, pig-themed lucky charms are not only used as individual animal motifs but also combined with other symbols of good luck.
The Connection Between Germanic Mythology and Pigs and Boars
The association of pigs and boars with prosperity also has roots in ancient Germanic and Norse beliefs.
Freyr, a god in Norse mythology associated with fertility and abundance, is linked to a golden boar called Gullinbursti.
The Natural History Museum in Nuremberg also presents the relationship between this golden boar and the fertility god Freyr as one of the historical reasons pigs are considered symbols of good luck.
Although ancient beliefs about boars differ from today’s cute pig-themed lucky charms, both share a connection to fertility and abundance.
Pigs Are Also New Year Lucky Charms in Austria
In Austria, which borders Germany, pigs are also a popular symbol for wishing good luck in the new year.
According to the Austrian National Tourist Office, it is customary to give pig ornaments, four-leaf clovers, chimney sweeps, and other lucky charms for the new year.
Marzipan pigs and horseshoe ornaments are also popular gifts for wishing happiness in the new year.
In Vienna, a market selling lucky charms is also held at the end of the year, and pig-shaped items have become a seasonal New Year tradition.
This custom is a concrete example of how the cultural association of pigs with good luck remains deeply rooted in daily life.
Pigs Are Symbols of Wealth and Prosperity in China
In China, pigs have also long been associated with wealth and prosperity.
In ancient China, pigs were important livestock, and owning them was one way to indicate wealth.
Because Chinese cuisine features many dishes made with pork, people say that “pigs eat everything except their own noise.”
Pig Ornaments Found in Ancient Chinese Tombs
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York holds jade objects shaped like pigs that were made during China’s Eastern Han dynasty.
According to the museum, pigs were symbols of wealth in ancient China, and small pig carvings were sometimes placed in the hands of the deceased.
This was intended to ensure prosperity in the afterlife.
Pig pens and pigs have also been excavated from ancient tombs as funerary objects, showing how closely pigs were associated with wealth.
The Pig in the Chinese Zodiac Also Symbolizes Prosperity
In the Chinese zodiac, the pig is known as the twelfth animal.
The Smithsonian National Postal Museum in the United States describes the pig in the Chinese zodiac as a symbol of wealth, prosperity, and good luck.
In Japan, the final animal of the zodiac is called a boar, but in China, it generally refers to the domestic pig.
Pigs Are Also Symbols of Wealth and Abundance in South Korea
In South Korea, pigs are also considered lucky animals representing wealth and abundance.
According to the South Korean government’s official website, which introduces materials from the National Folk Museum of Korea, another reason pigs are associated with wealth is that the Korean word for pig, “돼지 (dwaeji),” sounds like the Chinese-derived word for money, “돈 (don).”
Pigs are also considered symbols of fertility and abundance because they give birth to many offspring at once.
The South Korean government’s website also mentions the custom of buying a lottery ticket after dreaming of a pig.
This is another example of how pigs have developed as unique symbols of wealth in East Asia due to the sounds of words and folk beliefs.
Why Are Piggy Banks Shaped Like Pigs?
Piggy banks in the shape of pigs are a familiar way to connect pigs with wealth.
Piggy banks are also well known in Japan. However, the exact origin of the pig shape has not been fully explained.
Pig-Shaped Piggy Banks Have Long Existed
According to the Canadian Bank Museum, boar-shaped piggy banks were used on Java, Indonesia, as early as the 12th century.
These were ceramic containers shaped like pigs or boars and were used to save coins.
Pig-shaped piggy banks also became widespread in Europe, eventually establishing the pig as a design associated with savings.
Is the Theory That the Name Comes from a Clay Called “Pygg” True?
Regarding piggy banks, a widely held explanation is that they take their name from a type of clay once used in Europe called “pygg.”
However, the Canadian Bank Museum explains that there is no conclusive evidence to support this etymology.
Therefore, the idea that “piggy banks originated from pygg clay” cannot be considered a confirmed historical fact.
Today, piggy banks are cherished as familiar symbols of savings and wealth.
In Japan, Are Pigs or Boars Considered Lucky?
In the Japanese zodiac, “亥 (i)” refers to a boar, but in China and South Korea, it generally refers to the domestic pig.
The Tokyo National Museum describes the boar as an animal symbolizing courage and abundant harvests.
Because boars give birth to many offspring, they are also associated with abundance.
In this way, pigs and boars have long been connected to people’s lives and cultures in Japan as well.
Comparison of Pig Symbolism and Meanings Around the World
The meanings of pigs and boars vary by region. The following table compares their main symbolism and historical backgrounds.
| Region/Culture | Main Symbolism/Meaning | Origins/Characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| Germany | Good luck, abundance, wealth | The Glücksschwein is a lucky pig given as a New Year’s gift. |
| Austria | Good luck, happiness, success | It is customary to give pig ornaments and marzipan sweets for the New Year. |
| Ancient China | Wealth, property, prosperity | Ornaments symbolizing wealth, such as jade objects shaped like pigs and funerary objects depicting pig pens, have been found. |
| South Korea | Wealth, abundance, prosperity of future generations | The association of pigs with money through word sounds and the pig’s fertility form the basis of this symbolism. |
| Japan | Courage of the boar, abundance | The boar is used in the zodiac. Its strength and fertility are associated with its symbolism. |
| Hinduism | Salvation of the earth, sacred being | In one myth, the god Vishnu takes the form of Varaha, a boar, to save the earth. |
| Judaism/Islam | Prohibited food | Religious dietary laws prohibit the consumption of pork. |
As such, pigs are known around the world as symbols of wealth and good luck, while also carrying different meanings depending on religion and culture.
In particular, pigs have long been associated with people’s livelihoods and wealth in German-speaking countries and East Asia, where they are cherished as lucky charms.
Accessories and Amulets Featuring Pigs
The culture that regards pigs as symbols of good luck can be applied not only to ornaments and sweets but also to small wearable accessories.
In addition to pendants and charms shaped like pigs, designs can also combine them with other lucky motifs such as four-leaf clovers and horseshoes.
The Glücksschwein is a prime example of combining multiple symbols into a single ornament, such as pairing a pig with a four-leaf clover.
Knowing the meanings of these animal motifs allows people to appreciate not only their shapes and designs but also the wishes and cultural backgrounds they represent.
Choosing a pig-themed accessory as a symbol of good luck or prosperity is another way to enjoy them.
Summary | The History of Pigs as Symbols of Good Luck and Prosperity
Pigs have long been livestock that supported people’s livelihoods, playing an important role as a source of food and wealth.
In Germany and Austria, they are used as New Year’s gifts symbolizing good luck, while in China and South Korea, they are known as animals representing wealth, prosperity, and abundance.
Pig-shaped piggy banks and Glücksschwein combined with four-leaf clovers are just some of the many ways pig motifs have been incorporated into daily life.
Although interpretations vary by region and religion, the long history of pigs being cherished as symbols of good luck and prosperity is deeply connected to people’s lives and beliefs.
