A Christmas Tradition

The Christmas Pickle tradition is a legend that originated in Germany and people are still unsure about whether it is myth or reality. There are variations in the story but the just of it goes something like this.

In Germany, on Christmas Eve, a special ornament, colored green like a true pickle, and in perfect pickle formation down to the little nubs and perfect arch, is hidden deep within the Christmas tree. On Christmas morning, whichever child spots the ornament first gets a prize. If an adult spots it first, he/she is said to have good luck for a whole year. According to the website which informed me of this version of the pickle; everyone who knows anything about German tradition knows that the German St. Nick doesn`t come on Christmas Eve, he comes on the 5th or 6th of December. Keep in mind also, that German children don`t open gifts on Christmas morning, they do so on Christmas Eve.

Yet another rendition of this legend is that if the family could not afford another gift, then the lucky one who spotted the pickle first would get to be the first one to open a gift.

Yet another spin on things is the legend involving the Civil War soldier John Lower. He was captured and sent to a prison in Andersonville, GA where he got deathly ill. He was starving and fighting for his life so he played on what feelings a nearby prison guard had, and asked him for a pickle to eat. The guard reached deep inside his heart and decided that while a pickle wouldn`t save this man`s life, what harm would it be to grant him his wish. Mr. Lower lived, and claimed that the pickle had saved his life. After the war, he was released and returned home to his family where a Christmas Pickle ornament was hung each year in remembrance, gratitude, and in hopes of having a year filled with good tidings.

Here`s another one: There is a town in Michigan called Berrien Springs which claims to be the Christmas Pickle Capitol of the World. Each year, they actually hold a Christmas Pickle Festival, complete with a parade which is led by a Grand Dillmeister who hands out free pickles to everyone.
These locals claim that the Pickle Tradition started when two Spanish boys, travelling home from boarding school for the holidays, were stuffed into a pickle barrel by a mean, nasy innkeeper, and later freed by St. Nicholas who took pity on them and tapped the barrel with his staff.

When my husband and I started the tradition with our kids we were just looking for something fun to add to our day. We had no idea of the genesis of the legend and it`s been quite fun learning about it. The kids look forward to it because they get an extra gift and we like to watch them hunt for it. Here are our modifications:

We hang the pickle on our tree in plain site when we decorate it. On Christmas Eve, after the kids have gone to bed, either me or my beloved hides the pickle somewhere inside the house. We don`t put it outside, or in the garage, but since the kids are older we have labeled the rest of the house as fair game. When everyone wakes up on Christmas morning, the kids begin searching. It gives us adults a chance to have some coffee, a Christmas Mimosa perhaps, and to just wake up slowly before breakfast and presents. The child who finds it first (both of ours are teens now), gets a gift. Keep in mind that the gift has to be unisex if you have differing genders, and it should also be something that is age applicable. For us, Itunes giftcards, U-Swirl giftcards, or just plain old Visa giftcards work well.