Last Christmas my family received a pickle ornament. “Oh. A pickle ornament,” I thought, “How cute.” Of course, I didn’t even realize this was some sort of a holiday game until it was explained to me. I’d never heard of the Christmas Pickle before!
The Christmas Pickle is hidden somewhere on the Christmas tree. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets to open the first present, receives a bonus gift, or gets to help hand out gifts. The reward for finding the pickle varies, as do the actual roots of this custom.
Some say it’s an old German tradition, though many Germans have never heard of it! Some say the tradition began during the American Civil War. Nobody knows for certain where or when the Christmas Pickle originated.
Chances are, the origins of the Christmas Pickle are much more modern and it was possibly created in an attempt to sell oddly-shaped ornaments. No matter the origins, though, it is a fun holiday game and a new tradition to add to your family’s Christmas.
Where do you think the Christmas Pickle originated from? Did you have a Christmas Pickle growing up? Or do you participate in the Christmas Pickle game with your kids now?
