How the Christmas Pickle Tradition Got Started

How the Christmas Pickle Tradition Got Started will give you a fun new idea for your family to enjoy on Christmas morning.

If you’re looking for more ideas on how to make your holiday special, 55 Old Fashioned Christmas Ideas and 21 Hygge Christmas Ideas to Warm Your Soul will help you on your journey.

How the Christmas Pickle Tradition Got Started - Christmas Pickle Ornament on a tree — Christmas Pickle Ornament

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Here’s the Tradition of the Christmas Pickle:

Pickle Christmas Ornament

You’ve stumbled into a mystery – the puzzle of the Christmas Pickle ornament.

Initially, the Christmas pickle legend was thought to be an old German tradition.

It turns out that theory appears to be a myth. Most people in Germany haven’t even heard of Christmas pickles for the tree.

There’s another story about an American Civil War soldier who was starving, and a pickle he ate on Christmas Eve saved him.

Rumors also swirl about St. Nicholas saving two boys in a barrel of pickles.

How the tradition got started

The actual tradition probably began with a marketing campaign.

In the 1880s, Woolworth stores started importing glass ornaments from Germany.

Some of the ornaments were in the shape of fruit and vegetables. Pickle ornaments were part of the group.

It is now believed that a salesperson created the Legend of the Christmas Pickle ornament to sell more ornaments.

They were successful.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, an ornament in the shape of a pickle is hidden on the Christmas tree.

Because the tree is green, the pickle can be a little tough to find, blending into the branches.

Christmas Pickle Ornament

Christmas Morning

The first child that finds the pickle ornament receives an extra present from under the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

You can have the gift be from you or Santa Claus.

For some families, the gift of finding the pickle on Christmas morning gives the finder good luck all year long.

Christmas Pickle Glass Ornaments Gift Idea

The Christmas pickle makes a special gift for friends and family. It’s a great way to teach others about this fun tradition.

You could add other things like a jar of gourmet pickles, pickling spices, and a pickling cookbook.

Christmas Pickle Ornament

Here’s the Christmas pickle ornament on Amazon in a gift box.

Pickling Spices

A bag of pickling seasoning blend

Gourmet Pickles

Wickles Pickles are made from a recipe that’s over 70 years old

The Complete Guide to Pickling: Pickle and Ferment Everything Your Garden or Market has to Offer

One of my readers, Amanda, shared with me that she shares this tradition with her cat too. She bought her cat a catnip pickle toy! I thought it was a great idea.

Fun Facts about Pickles

According to the Department of Agriculture, the average American eats 8 1/2 pounds of pickles per year. (Fun fact: I’m eating pickles right now as I write this article!)
November 14th is National Pickle Day.
Cleopatra believed pickles helped make her beautiful. She ate them regularly.
Shakespeare coined the phrase “In a pickle” in 1611 in his play The Tempest.
In Mississippi, they make Kool-Aid pickles. You take dill pickles and cut them in half. Soak them in strong Kool-Aid for a week in the refrigerator.

We’ve reached the end of the Pickle Ornament for Christmas History. I hope you enjoyed it!

Don’t forget to take a look at the Cozy Living Group. You’re not going to believe how amazing it is.