No, I'm no kidding.
2007-08-30 07:22:53 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Christmas
I am 49 years old and have never heard of it until just a couple of weeks ago. When an 18 year old that I work with said that it has always been a tradition in her family. A pickle is hidden in the tree and the first one to find it on Christmas morning wins a gift.
2007-08-30 11:05:22 · answer #1 · answered by brianandamysmom 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I've heard of this. I also think it is a German tradition. I was always told that the reason behind it was to slow down over anxious children and have them look at and appreciate the Christmas tree. I think that this tradition started back when people put up their Christmas trees on Christmas Eve night. The child that took the time to find the pickle hanging in the tree gets a special little present.
When I have a child, I think that I want to do this tradition with him or her. I think it's adorable.
2007-08-30 15:29:56 · answer #2 · answered by Rachel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes. the tradition says that on christmas eve parents would hide the pickle ornament on the tree and the first child to find it received an extra gift! although it is claimed to be from Germany many people there have never heard of it so it may be something that only certain families do or was made up!
2007-08-30 14:40:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This unique ornament is considered to be good luck. European tradition dictates that the pickle is to be hidden in your decorated Christmas tree, and the first child to find the pickle is rewarded with an extra gift from Santa.
2007-08-30 18:48:16 · answer #4 · answered by Mustbe 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have heard of this and seen some glass pickle ornaments.
The German Christmas Pickle Tradition: Myth or Reality?
It never fails. Every December someone asks about the German Christmas pickle ornament that's supposed to have a long tradition in Germany.
Here's the pickle “legend” from one Web site: “A very old Christmas eve tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas. The first adult who finds the pickle traditionally gets good luck for the whole year.” This Christmas pickle story, with a few minor variations, can be found all over the Web and in print inside the ornament package. It says that Germans hang a pickle-shaped glass ornament on the Christmas tree hidden away so it's difficult to find. The first child to find it on Christmas morning gets a special treat or an extra present.
Of course, anyone familiar with German Christmas customs can see the flaws in this “legend.” First of all, the German St. Nick doesn't show up on Christmas Eve. He arrives on the 5th or 6th of December. Nor do German children open their presents on Christmas morning. That happens on Christmas Eve in Germany. (See our German Christmas Guide for more about German Christmas customs.)
But the biggest problem with the German pickle (saure Gurke, Weihnachtsgurke) tradition is that no one in Germany seems to have ever heard of it. Over the years this question has repeatedly come up on the AATG (German Teachers) forum. Teachers of German in the U.S. and in Europe have never been able to find a native German who has even heard of the pickle legend, much less carried out this Christmas custom. It may have been some German-American invention by someone who wanted to sell more glass ornaments for Christmas. Or could the Weihnachtsgurke be an obscure regional custom that few people are aware of?
The Christmas Pickle is an American tradition related to the Christmas tree. In this tradition, a family decorates its Christmas tree with ornaments including one glass pickle. On Christmas morning, the first child to find the pickle on the tree would get a special gift and would supposedly have a year of good fortune.
This tradition is commonly believed by Americans to come from Germany, but this is probably apocryphal. In fact, the tradition is widely unknown in Germany.
2007-08-30 16:32:56 · answer #5 · answered by The Corinthian 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Yes its a german tradition as a glass pickle ornament was hung on the tree in a hiding spot and the child that found it on christmas eve or day could and would got a specail christmas present. we have one that was given to my dad and the boys love to look for it and we hide it pretty good so it makes it difficult each year... have a nice day and thank u for the question...
2007-08-30 18:15:03 · answer #6 · answered by THE UK WILDCAT FAMILY 10 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I've never heard of it.
2007-08-30 22:38:27 · answer #7 · answered by ~>M3 N MY 2 GYRLZ<~ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think so sound familiar
2007-08-30 21:08:33 · answer #8 · answered by dvcgurl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋