The Green Bay Packers season opener kicks off today at 3:25 this afternoon against the Detroit Lions. For most Wisconsinites, this is one of the most important Sundays of the year.
The cooler temperatures and return of professional football season also mean that its time for another annual tradition: Sunday hot ham and rolls.
Most people in southeastern Wisconsin grew up with the expectation of picking up hot ham and rolls on Sundays. But where does this tradition come from?
Much of the history behind this Sunday snack comes from this area of the state’sGerman and Polish roots and can be traced back several generations.
In the early twentieth century, several local delis throughout the region began offering sliced ham with the promise of a half dozen free, freshly baked rolls.
The promise of free rolls was intended to capture the interest of families who were on their way home from church on Sunday afternoons.
The sweeter, milder, easier to serve hams that were sliced and served warm were much more easily available than older, dry cured hams.
This allowed bakeries to forge a partnership with nearby delicatessens to serve the two together, drawing in clientele who were in search of an easy, communal meal after service.
Hot ham and rolls was both a convenient meal for hungry customers as well as a smart marketing tactic used by bakeries, butchers, and grocery stores.
This weekly food tradition is similar to others, such as the Friday Fish Fry, and has become something that Wisconsinites look forward to each week.
Over the following years, the practice would spread from smaller businesses out to larger grocery chains, further embedding it in southeastern Wisconsin’s culture.
As more bakeries embraced the hot ham and rolls deal, it also led to the rise of picking up special Sunday pastries like donuts or kringles.
Today, hot ham and rolls are alongstanding tradition and a crucial part of the Sunday football experience. Just like people have preferences over fish fries, many have preferences over their favorite styles of ham, their favorite version of the classic kaiser roll, and their favorite place to stop on a Sunday morning.
Where’s your favorite spot for hot ham and rolls in Lake Country? Let us know!
