The Christmas PickleYou may or may not know the story of the Christmas Pickle. The Christmas pickle is a pickle-shaped ornament that is hidden deep in the boughs of the tree on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, the first child to find the Christmas pickle gets an extra gift from Saint Nicholas. (Or a year of good luck. As legends often do, it varies with the teller.)
This tradition is usually attributed to the Germans. The Germans say no. So nobody really knows, but if you do a little internet research you come up with a couple of plausible origins.
But that kinda takes the fun out of it.
I don't care where it originated, or even if its a complete fiction. After all, we hang stockings on the mantle too. So, this Christmas Eve I'll be hiding a pickle on my tree and we'll begin this cute little tradition at our house.
Just in case you want to join me, there's a spunky machine embroidered Christmas Pickle at Sew Weird. It's a free download, but you have to sign up for her newsletter to receive the link!
This tradition is usually attributed to the Germans. The Germans say no. So nobody really knows, but if you do a little internet research you come up with a couple of plausible origins.
But that kinda takes the fun out of it.
I don't care where it originated, or even if its a complete fiction. After all, we hang stockings on the mantle too. So, this Christmas Eve I'll be hiding a pickle on my tree and we'll begin this cute little tradition at our house.
Just in case you want to join me, there's a spunky machine embroidered Christmas Pickle at Sew Weird. It's a free download, but you have to sign up for her newsletter to receive the link!
We've been doing the pickle here for a few years now; trial-and-error has shown that the best way to be fair about the pickle is to hide it when we put the presents out; there's a Wonka Bar waiting for whoever find it first.
ReplyDeleteI've had to get really sneaky. Last year, for the first time, I had two trees...we put up our little tree that we got for the 'I don't have time to decorate' years as well as the big one. The big tree's in the front window; the little one is in the family room near the fireplace. We have no mantle, so I put all the stockings under the little tree. Without any hints, I hung the pickle in the small tree instead of the big one. On Christmas morning the kids all headed for the big tree to try and find the pickle; DS the Elder stopped half way and thought about the small tree. Of course, he found the pickle while the others were still arguing over who was looking where.
There was much lamentation and gnashing of teeth from the rest of the fry.
I've no idea where I'll put it this year... ;)
You'll have fun!
Oh Lisa! That is so funny! I can't wait to tell the kids about it. And the Wonka bar is a perfect treat!!
ReplyDelete