The Christmas Pickle Tradition

The Christmas Pickle Tradition

In what appears to be a tradition that originated from Bavarian roots, either in Germany, or from American-Germans, the Christmas pickle or Christmas Gerkin is one that is popular with kids and adults a like. I mean what better way to say Happy Holidays than to convey it with a hidden pickle.

The Christmas pickle is not really a pickle at all. It is a pickle-shaped glass ornament that is the last one hung and hidden on the tree on Christmas Eve. The first child to find the Christmas pickle gets an extra gift from Saint Nicholas.

The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year.  Personally, I’d like a prezzie, but hey good luck is valuable too.

You can get a 3 pack on Amazon for $10 and gift to family members for their tree!

Although the orgins of this tradition are murky, one tale tells the story of a soldier who fought in the American Civil War, John Lower (Hans Lauer?), born in Bavaria in 1842, wrote to tell about a family story that had to do with a Christmas pickle. According to family lore, “John Lower was captured and sent to prison in Andersonville, Georgia. …In poor health and starving, he begged a guard for just one pickle before he died. The guard took pity on him and found a pickle for John Lower. According to family legend, John said that the pickle—by the grace of God—gave him the mental and physical strength to live on. Once he was reunited with his family he began a tradition of hiding a pickle on the Christmas tree. The first person who found the pickle on Christmas morning would be blessed with a year of good fortune.”

The Civil War ended in 1865, but glass Christmas tree ornaments did not become popular in the U.S. until around 1880 when F.W. Woolworth began importing them from Germany.

Has the popularity of the supposedly German legend in America brought it to Germany, or was it really the other way around?

No one really knows, but honestly, who doesn’t like pickles?

Here’s how to Hide the Pickle properly!

The Christmas pickle ornament tradition is a fun and festive way to add a little bit of mystery and excitement to the holiday season. Here’s how it works:

  1. Hide the pickle: On Christmas Eve, a pickle-shaped ornament is hidden somewhere on the Christmas tree. Some families like to make it easy for younger children to find, while others prefer to make it a bit more challenging.
  2. The hunt begins: On Christmas morning, everyone in the family starts searching for the pickle. The first person to find it wins a prize! The prize can be anything from a small gift to bragging rights for the rest of the year.

Bring the Christmas Pickle Tradition to your household!


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