In a pickle
I bought and hung my newest Christmas ornament today.
A Pickle.
Yep, you read it right. A great big bright green PICKLE.
I've seen these around for years and just haven't bought one. I won't start the tradition below this year, but will probably do it next year and buy a little something extra for under the tree to the one who remembers to look for the pickle
A pickle used as an ornament on the Christmas tree seems odd at first, but this is an old German tradition.
When decorating the Christmas tree, it was a practice to hang the pickle ornament last, hidden among the twigs. The first
child on Christmas Eve to find the Christmas pickle ornament would receive an extra gift.
When decorating the Christmas tree, it was a practice to hang the pickle ornament last, hidden among the twigs. The first
child on Christmas Eve to find the Christmas pickle ornament would receive an extra gift.
One rumor tells of a Bavarian-born Union soldier fighting in the Civil War named John Lower who was captured and sent to prison in Georgia. In poor health and starving, the prisoner begged for just one pickle before he died. A merciful guard took pity and found him a pickle. Miraculously, John lived, and after he returned home he began the tradition of the Christmas Pickle, promising good fortune to the one who found the special ornament on Christmas Day.
I also bought my grandson an ornament today (I forgot to photograph it before I gave it to him). It is a cute glass box turtle. A family friend gave him a real box turtle a few weeks ago,so I knew he would like the ornament.
It seems we were on the same wave length today because when he came over tonight he had an ornament for me too. He picked it out by himself and was so proud that I bragged about how much I loved it. Of course I insisted he help me hang it on the tree which made him even more proud.
Grand kids are so sweet. Here is the one he got for me
posted by Patty at
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
6 Comments:
Hello, I'm blog shopping tonight, and came across your page. I'll be back with it isn't so late, but you sound like you'd fit into my little world of bloggers. All who are (for the most part) retired and doing things they once wished they had time to do.
Your interest - intrest me, your list of interest is interesting, and I will be back. Keep up the good work.
Grammyof13
We have a pickle on our tree but I don't do the extra present thing. Your new ornament is lovely! Your grandson has excellent taste.
what a great tradition to have!
We've been scrooges for years but 2 years ago we bought a tree (it was already decorated). Maybe in a few years we will get a bigger tree that we decorate. Seems like a cool tradition.
Earlier today I was in a small store in the little town of Putnam with my cousin doing some Christmas shopping and they had all sorts of bright and shiny pickle ornaments. I remembered this story and tradition vaguely and thought to myself that if I still actually decorated a tree that I'd get a pickle for it and then hide it amongst the branches. After all, it's a Civil War story and I love the Civil War!
Your grandson got you a lovely ornament and I bet it becomes one of your very favorites from here on in!
We have a pickle too!!!
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