Hidden in the tree: the Christmas pickle
Izzy Gimm - Website and Social Media Manager
When it comes to quirky holiday traditions, the Christmas Pickle ornament stands out. The ornament is more than just an unusual decoration.
The premise is simple: families search for a pickle-shaped ornament hidden among the tree branches on Christmas morning. The person who finds it is often rewarded with a small prize, an extra gift, or even the honor of opening the first present.
“For our family, the Christmas pickle is hidden in the Christmas Tree the night before Christmas,” said junior Julia Dixon (Peoria, IL). “On Christmas morning, my family waits until we have finished opening presents and stockings, and then we line up on the staircase (for a fair start) and race to see who can find the pickle in the tree. The first to find the pickle ornament gets a gift card and has to take a picture wearing the “Pickle Champ” hat.”
The Christmas pickle is a tradition families have fun in every year. For many, it’s a centerpiece offun and a holiday game that brings families together. “It’s a German tradition that one of my aunts shared with us, and she first gifted us with our pickle after someone shared it with her,” said Dixon. “We look forward to this part of Christmas every year, not even because the prize is big, but because we just really like the competition of it all. The pickle champ is different every year. My siblings and I are incredibly competitive about the pickle tradition. Not only with the trash-talk but also with pushing and any other move to help stop a family member from winning. This tradition symbolizes growth to me since I remember doing it as a little kid. The coolest part of this tradition is seeing how it has changed as my siblings and I have aged.”