The Christmas Pickle: Quirky Ornament or Forgotten Folklore?
Every holiday season a curious tradition turns up in Christmas trees across America: the Christmas pickle. A pickle-shaped ornament is tucked into the branches, and on Christmas morning the first person to find it is rewarded. Maybe they get to open the first gift, or earn special bragging rights, or good luck for the year.
Many people think the tradition dates back to Germany, and the German name Weihnachtsgurke only adds to that story. But when researchers polled over 2,000 Germans, most had never even heard of the Christmas pickle tradition.
Another tale credits a Civil War soldier named Private John Lower. He was held prisoner in Andersonville in 1864 and begged for a pickle as a last meal. That pickle supposedly helped him survive. When he returned home, he reportedly started the tree-hiding tradition.
A darker version of the legend comes from Berrien Springs, Michigan, once called the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World. It tells of boys trapped in a pickle barrel who are mysteriously rescued by Saint Nicholas. This tale likely evolved from even older medieval stories of children hidden in barrels.
The most likely origin isn't ancient folklore but clever marketing. In the 1880s Woolworth’s imported German glass ornaments shaped like fruits and vegetables, including pickles. As the story goes, a creative seller invented a legend about the pickle tradition to boost ornament sales.
Despite its murky origin, the Christmas pickle tradition has stuck, especially in the Midwest and among families with German heritage. Berrien Springs even resumed its Pickle Festival and parade in 2021 after a 16-year break.
Whether you believe in Civil War lore, dark medieval legends, or just think someone made it up to sell ornaments, the Christmas pickle is still hiding each year in living rooms and tree branches. No matter where it came from, it adds a playful treasure hunt to the morning unwrapping. It also reminds us that sometimes traditions start in unexpected ways. And they become cherished anyway.
