The Christmas Pickle

The pickles were hung by the chimney with care

Oops - I forgot that I promised to relate the story of the Christmas pickle! From my hasty research, it appears that the tradition of hiding a glass pickle ornament is supposed to go back a few hundred years to Germany, the birthplace of blown-glass Christmas tree ornaments - but it seems few Germans have ever heard of this holiday past-time and it may have originated right here in the U.S. in the 1800s - click on these links to read about the mysterious Christmas pickle! 


http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth11.htm



http://mymerrychristmas.com/2005/pickle.shtml

I bought two pickle ornaments this year to give as gifts, and this is what was printed on the package:

"It's Christmas, a time of jingle bells, stockings, presents under the tree and family traditions. Celebrate the holidays with a time-honored German tradition and have fun with your family for years to come! Following an Old World custom, parents waited until Christmas Eve to hide a small pickle ornament on the Christmas tree, tucking it out of sight among the branches. On Christmas morning, the first family member to spot the pickle was rewarded with a special blessing for the coming year and received the first present from under the tree."

in hopes that St. Nickolas soon would make relish!

An article in USA Today disclosed that many Americans are re-inventing Christmas with fewer (or no) gifts, more meaningful exchanges, borrowed Christmas trees, emails instead of Christmas cards - the sky's the limit - and yet, many people are still out there buying stuff (this year's Black Friday broke a few records, I believe). Ah, commercialism! One family drew their Christmas tree on brown craft paper and taped it to a wall; for gifts, they are writing letters to each other and reading them on Christmas morning. Merry Spartan Christmas!

Whatever your holiday traditions may be, enjoy them with family & friends and don't be afraid to invent new ones! Please pass the relish...