Stocking Stuffer #7: The Christmas Pickle

Is there a pickle hanging on your Christmas tree? Yeah, a pickle; a Christmas Pickle.

We were given a Christmas Pickle a number of years ago while our oldest boys were still little guys.  The 'legend' of the Christmas Pickle says that the pickle ornament is the last ornament to be placed on the tree. On Christmas morning, the first child to find the pickle receives an additional gift.

Believed to be a German tradition, the Christmas Pickle has become a modern day custom. But is it really a tradition? As I prepared to write this Stocking Stuffers post, I started doing a little research and it appears, that the whole idea of the Christmas Pickle being a Germany Tradition might be a Christmas myth! In fact, most sources I read stated that in Germany, no one is even aware of the pickle story or tradition. Hmm.

German Tradition or not, today's stocking stuffer idea is the Christmas Pickle. You can do your own research and determine for yourself the validity of the supposed tradition. But at the Higham house, we have made the Christmas Pickle part of our family tradition. Each Christmas Eve, after the kids have gone to bed, Amy hides the pickle somewhere deep within the branches of the tree. On Christmas morning, as we have opened all the individual gifts, we let the kids loose. For the first couple of years, we gave an extra gift to the first kid who find the pickles, as per the "tradition". But we quickly discovered that the same child was finding the pickle year after year. That ruins the fun a little. So we now offer a family gift as the pickle gift and the one who finds the pickle opens the gift. It's a happier alternative and keeps everyone wanting to look for the pickle.

So, is it a tradition? Does it really matter? I don't think so. Instead, the Christmas Pickle is a fun Christmas extra that is great fun for the family. Legend or not, create a tradition for your family!

Merry Christmas!

- jay

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