Pigs

Pigs as a Lucky Symbol

Many people around the world consider pigs good luck. They represent wealth, abundance, and prosperity.

In ancient times owning pigs was a cause for admiration.

This was especially true in Europe and Asia. 

It meant you had food, security and wealth.

Pigs reproduce quickly and provide lots of meat. They were a sign you were doing well.

The pig is a symbol of prosperity, fertility and lots of good luck.

🐖 Swine farmers always had food. Keeping pigs was a sure way of ensuring your family’s well-being. As the old Irish saying goes; “The pig is the gentleman who pays the rent”.

🐖 Germany – Glücksschwein (“Lucky Pig”)

On New Year’s, in Germany you can buy little pink marzipan pigs called Glücksschwein.

These are great gifts to friends and family. They represent good luck and prosperity for the coming year.

You’ll see them in bakeries and shops everywhere around that time.

🐖 Austria and Switzerland

Like Germany, pigs are good luck charms, especially at New Year’s. It’s common to see pigs made of chocolate or marzipan.

Some even gift tiny pig figurines to spread good fortune.

🐖 Scandinavia – Christmas Pig

In Norway, a marzipan pig is a Christmas tradition. It’s linked to ancient sacrificial feasts (Yule traditions). They offered a pig to the gods for fertility and luck.

In Norwegian the term “heldiggris” is common. It translates to “lucky pig”. The term is positive meaning “Wow, you are lucky”.

In Swedish, it is “tur gris” and in Danish it is “heldig gris”. In Iceland, they say “heppinn svín”.

Candy in shapes of pigs symbolizes wishes for prosperity and luck.

Marzipan pigs sell in the thousands every December in Northern Europe.

🐖 See a Pig for Good Luck

Older folk traditions in Europe included pigs. Seeing a pig first thing in the morning meant luck for the entire day.

The luckiest day to see a pig was on a Sunday. Similarly, finding a pig-shaped charm or figure was a lucky omen.

🐖 The Pig as a Wealth Symbol

🐖 Some wear small pig charms to attract money and good luck. Pigs have a history of ensuring a family’s finances. Pig charms remain popular to this day.

🐖 The piggy bank is a worldwide symbol of money. Feeding our piggy bank with coins shows we care for our financial future. Piggy banks are thought to protect and attract money.

🐖 So to sum up, pigs symbolize plenty of food and money, plenty of good things.

🐖 The Pig in the Chinese Zodiac

In Chinese culture, the pig is the twelfth sign of the zodiac. It represents good fortune, happiness, and wealth.

A “fat” pig symbolizes a rich, comfortable life.

In general terms people born in a pig year are said to be sociable. They are popular, passionate and reliable.

On the backside, they may be quick tempered.  It is a Yin sign.

The year of the pig comes every twelve years:

Feb 4, 1935 – Jan 23, 1936 (wood)

Jan 22, 1947 – Feb 9, 1948 (fire)

Feb 8, 1959 – Jan 27, 1960 (earth)

Jan 27, 1971 – Feb 14, 1972 (metal)

Feb 13, 1983 – Feb 1, 1984 (water)

Jan 31, 1995 – Feb 18, 1996 (wood)

Feb 18, 2007 – Feb 6, 2008 (fire)

Feb 5, 2019 – Jan 24, 2020 (earth)

Jan 23, 2031 – Feb 10, 2032 (metal)

Feb 10, 2043 – Jan 29, 2044 (water)

🐖 Freyr and his Boar in Norse Mythology

Freyr was one of the principal gods in Norse mythology. He was handsome and kind god linked with the light and the sun.

Freyr was a fertility god and a god of prosperity and peace.

His twin sister was Freyja, the goddess of sorcery, love, lust, beauty, and death.

The boar named Gullinbursti belonged to Freyr. This was no ordinary pig.

This boar could fly across the sky as well as over great oceans. Freyr loved to travel sitting on the back of Gullinbursti.

🐖 The Pig of Valhalla in Norse Mythology

All Vikings who died in battle came to a place called Valhalla. All day long they spent fighting in Valhalla. Every evening there was a huge feast.

Some Vikings were unfortunate enough to “die” during these fights. This was part of the game and caused no worries.

They all came back to “life” in time for the feast in the evening.

Introducing to you another famous pig in Norse myth, Saehrimnir.

They slaughtered the magical boar every evening in Valhalla.

The Vikings believed the pig, Saehrimnir came back to life every morning.

It was the main meal served to all the Vikings who resided there after their death.

Lord Vishnu as a Boar

Vishnu, the Hindu god of protection and preservation has ten well known avatars.

They are as follows:

• 1.Matsya, the Fish
• 2. Kurma, the turtle  
• 3. Varaha, the boar
• 4. Narasimha, the man-lion
• 5. Vamana, the dwarf
•  6.  Parsurama
• 7. Lord Rama
• 8.  Lord Krishna
• 9. The Buddha
• 10. Finally, he will be reincarnated as the Kalki. Believers are still waiting for this to happen.

In his third reincarnation Vishnu was the boar who came on a very important mission.

An evil demon named Hiranyaksha had pulled Mother Earth to the bottom of the ocean.

Vishnu, as the boar Varaha came to the rescue. After a long and fierce fight with Hiranyaksha he killed the demon.

Varaha (Lord Vishnu) then lifted the Earth up from the ocean and back in place.

The Earth was saved and life could continue.

🐖 Pig Quotes

🐖 “I am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals. Winston Churchill, 1874-1965

🐖 “Believe each day that has dawned is your last. Some hour to which you have not been looking forward will prove lovely. As for me, if you want a good laugh, you will come and find me fat and sleek, in excellent condition, one of Epicurus’s herds of pigs.” Horus, Roman poet 65 BC

🐖 The Pig got up and slowly walked away – Song from 1933

“One evening in October, when I was one-third sober,

An’ taking home a “load” with manly pride;

My poor feet began to stutter, so I lay down in the gutter,

And a pig came up an’ lay down by my side;

Then we sang “It’s all fair weather when good fellows get together”,

Till a lady passing by was heard to say:

“You can tell a man who “boozes” by the company he chooses’

And the pig got up and slowly walked away.” Benjamin Hapgood Burt, American Songwriter – 1880-1950