Christmas Around the World: The Christmas Pickle

Resource: simplemost.com

The Christmas Pickle tradition is not well known around the world.

The tradition consists of a pickle ornament being hidden among a Christmas tree and the children are sent to find it. The first child to find this ornament is then rewarded with a gift.

Another variation of this game is when the children are eating dinner on Christmas, the pickle is then hidden among the limbs of the tree. The child that finds the ornament is then rewarded a small cash prize. Some even believe that the person that finds this ornament receives good fortune the following year. 

Woolworth Pickle Ornament

Resource: woolworthusa.com

There are a number of origin stories attributed to this tradition. One of these including being said to have started in Germany around the 1880s when Woolworth stores started selling glass ornaments imported from Germany in various shapes of fruits and vegetables. This belief would be false. It is now thought to be a German-American tradition created in the 19th century. It is suggested that the origin of the Christmas pickle may have been developed for marketing purposes.

Resource: southernliving.com

Another suggested origin came from Camp Sumter during the American Civil War. Private John C. Lower enlisted in the 103rd Pennsylvania Infantry, but was captured in April 1864 and taken to the prison camp. It is said that on Christmas Eve he begged the guard for a pickle, while starving. The guard provided it and Lower later credited for saving his life. After returning home, he began a tradition of hanging a pickle on his Christmas tree every year.

Antique Oak Pickle Barrel

Resource: ebth.com

Another origin comes from Berrien Springs. This is a Victorian era tale that involves St. Nicholas saving two Spanish children who were trapped in barrels of pickles by innkeepers.

It is also believed that people in the Spreewald region might have been so poor that they decorated their trees with cucumbers.