No. It's a Southern thang. It started during the depression but was also done in Scottish households dating back to before the Revolutionary War when the British would hire Scottish mercenaries. The mercenaries from Scotland could climb mountains all day and barely eat a bite. The British paid the Scots in hamhocks of which they would send the majority of home. When cooked in a pan back in the days of yore, the Scottish wives would save the fat because they didn't know when the next hamhock might be sent home.
You should know. You were there you Grumpy Old Bastid.