Jeremiah Martin, Matt McNamara, Seth Lindeman (hidden) and Keith Greiner, from left, weigh, pack and bag sauerkraut that will be sold in the next several days at Upper Leacock Fire Company in Leola.
After 43 years, "it's really become a tradition" on the first day of each year for anyone who lives near Leola.
And for many who don't live near Leola.
It's a tradition that's also said to lead to good luck and an "inkrautable" year to come, as Ted Burkhart put it.
"A lot of people seem to always want to come out and enjoy a good New Year's Day dinner with us," Burkhart, organizer of Upper Leacock Fire Company's big New Year's Day pork and sauerkraut dinner, said while gearing up this week.
This year, more than 100 volunteers will be working to serve the traditional meal.
It will run from noon to 6 p.m. on Friday at the Upper Leacock fire hall, 50 W. Main St., Leola.
At a still-young age of 43, it's the granddaddy of all the traditional New Year's Day dinners here, but it's far from the only one.
Others are planned in all parts of Lancaster County — in Kinzers, Lititz, Akron, Wakefield and two separate sites in Manheim Township.
At Upper Leacock's dinner, organizer Burkhart is an 18-year veteran of the big annual celebration.
And as organizers were getting ready this week, he said it takes "a lot of man-hours" to make the dinner a success.
The help comes from people like Eugene Rogers, a volunteer from the beginning.
Along with the traditional pork and sauerkraut, the Upper Leacock dinner will feature hot dogs, mashed potatoes, applesauce, dinner rolls, dessert and drinks.
The family-style, all-you-can-eat meal is $11 for adults and $5 for kids ages 3 through 12, and takeout meals also will be available for $11.
Along with a full menu, containers of raw sauerkraut are available for $5. Call Upper Leacock at 656-9881 for more information.
Elsewhere, these other churches and fire halls are planning similar traditional meals Friday to start 2010:
• The Kinzer Fire Company will host its 31st annual family-style pork and sauerkraut dinner from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the firehouse, 3521 Lincoln Highway East, Kinzers.
Cost is $12 for adults and takeout meals and $6 for children age 4 to 12, while kids age 3 and younger are admitted free.
"The meal is served at a table of 16 people" who are "usually strangers, but leave as friends," event chairman Dwight Groff said.
Preparation for the meal began with the planting of a half-acre of cabbage, which was picked in October and then took a little more than two months to become what we all know as sauerkraut, organizers said.
The Kinzer fire volunteers, in eastern Lancaster County, serve some 2,500 meals both in-house and on a take-out basis.
Call 442-4121 for more information.
• Lancaster Church of the Brethren, 1601 Sunset Ave., will host its annual pork and sauerkraut dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in its family life center.
Cost is $6 for adults and $3 for children 10 and younger. Hot dogs also will be available.
Call 397-4751 for more information.
• A family-style pork and sauerkraut dinner will be held Friday at Akron United Zion Church, 31 S. 10th St., from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Proceeds will benefit church missions projects, and all are welcome. Call 445-6891 for more information.
• Lititz Church of the Brethren, 300 W. Orange St., will host its 11th annual New Year's Day pork and sauerkraut dinner Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost of the buffet-style dinner is $10 for adults and $4 for children age 3 to 11. Proceeds of the dinner benefit youth attending an upcoming national youth conference.
Takeouts also will be available. Call 626-2131 for details.
• In Wakefield in southern Lancaster County, the Robert Fulton Fire Company will host its annual pork and sauerkraut dinner Friday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Takeout will be available from 11 to 2. Cost is $8 for adults and $4 for kids ages 5 through 10.
The fire hall is at routes 272 and 222. Call 548-2531 for more information.
• St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Lititz Pike and Delp Road, will host its annual pork and sauerkraut dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost is $9 for guests age 11 to 64, $8 for those age 65 and older (and also for takeout) and $5 for youngsters age 4 to 10. Youngsters age 3 and under are admitted free.
All proceeds go toward church programs. Call the church office (569-9211) for details.