ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Liberty cabbage

Liberty cabbage is not actually a type of cabbage, but it refers to sauerkraut, which is a dish made from fermented cabbage. Sauerkraut has a long history and is enjoyed by people in many countries. However, during World War I, there was some tension between the United States, where liberty and freedom are highly valued, and Germany, a country that was seen as an enemy at the time.

To show their disapproval of all things German, some people in the United States decided to change the name of sauerkraut to "liberty cabbage." They thought that by calling it something different, it would highlight their support for freedom and distance themselves from Germany.

This name change was not very common or widespread, and not everyone stopped using the name "sauerkraut." It was more of a symbolic gesture made by some individuals. The name "liberty cabbage" was not widely embraced and eventually fell out of use after World War I ended.

Overall, liberty cabbage is a nickname for sauerkraut that some people used during a specific time in history to distance themselves from Germany and show their support for freedom.
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