Wisconsin traditions are rarely reserved for museums, history books or special occasions. They are practiced every week in taverns and supper clubs, repeated every fall at deer camps and football tailgates, and passed from one generation to the next at cabins, festivals and family cookouts.

Some grew from the customs of immigrants. Others emerged from the state’s farms, forests, lakes and small towns. Together, they help explain why Wisconsin feels distinct — and why many people who leave still carry a piece of the state with them.

1. Friday Night Fish Fry

Few Wisconsin traditions are as widespread or dependable as the Friday night fish fry. Rooted in the Catholic practice of abstaining from meat on Fridays, the custom grew alongside the state’s German, Polish and other European immigrant communities.

During Prohibition, taverns and restaurants also embraced fish dinners as a way to bring customers through the door. What began as a religious observance gradually became a year-round social ritual shared by people of many backgrounds.

A traditional Wisconsin fish fry may feature beer-battered or breaded cod, perch, bluegill or walleye, accompanied by coleslaw, rye bread, tartar sauce and a choice of french fries or potato pancakes. It can be found at supper clubs, taverns, churches, American Legion halls, Veterans of Foreign Wars posts and community fundraisers throughout the state.