The Christmas Pickle Custom and Its Origins: Where Did This Holiday Practice Begin?
Growing up, one of my favorite holiday pastimes was assisting my grandma in unloading her vast storage bin filled with Christmas ornaments. Her preferred Christmas tree decor scheme was the nostalgic "everything motif," which meant any ornament with a hook or string could secure a spot on the tree. Her tree was a melange of various decorations, from coordinated sets of snowflakes to valuable keepsakes and childhood crafts. The most incongruous ornament we pulled from her storage each year was the special Christmas pickle.
What's the Christmas Pickle Tradition?
The Christmas pickle, also known as the Weihnachtsgurke, is a cherished part of a popular American tradition that involves a frantic hunt and a delightful reward. The pickle, usually a glass ornament, is hidden among the tree's branches, and the first person to locate it receives the reward.
In my family, the first person to find the pickle on Christmas Eve gets to open the first present. In different families, the search takes place on Christmas morning, or the pickle discoverer is gifted a special present. For others, the reward is fortune for the upcoming year. However, the item in the tree remains a pickle.
Where Did the Christmas Pickle Tradition Originate?
A pickle on a Christmas tree might be peculiar, even by the standards of my grandma's eclectic ornament collection. The randomness of its presence suggests an origin story, but the truth remains elusive.
The Christmas pickle is a beloved American tradition, and it is generally believed to have German roots. However, the majority of Germans are unaware of this tradition. A 2016 survey of 2,057 German nationals found that 91% did not recognize the Christmas pickle tradition, and only 2% practiced it.
If it's not a German tradition, where did it originate? Various legends exist regarding the Christmas pickle's origins, including the account of a captive Civil War soldier.
Civil War Story: The legend goes that a soldier requested his favorite food (a pickle!) from a guard on Christmas Eve before his imminent death. The guard granted his wish, and the pickle provided the soldier with the strength to endure. Upon his return home, he honored the pickle by hanging it in his Christmas tree as a token of gratitude.
Pickle Barrel Story: Another tale claims that two boys were trapped in a pickle barrel, but Saint Nicholas discovered and rescued them, leading to pickles being associated with good fortune.
Sales Tactic: Nevertheless, it's also plausible that a salesman devised the pickle tradition to boost ornament sales. In the mid-to-late 1800s, German glassblowers began producing ornaments in the shape of fruits and vegetables, coinciding with the rise in popularity of this pickle legend.
The origins of the pickle tradition remain unclear, but regardless of its origins, families like mine continue to hang a seemingly random pickle in their tree each year. The more pressing question isn't where the pickle came from, but where it's currently concealed.
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The Christmas pickle tradition is often associated with holiday celebrations at BHG, where the first person to find the hidden ornament receives a special reward. To add to the festivities, you might consider incorporating Christmas Ornaments featuring the shape of pickles into your tree decoration.
When planning Holidays Entertaining, why not include a pickle hunt as a fun activity for your guests? You could even hide several pickle ornaments around your house, offering a small prize for each one found. This interactive game can create lasting memories and bring joy to your Christmas celebrations, inspired by the beloved American tradition.
