Weihnachtsgurke or Christmas Pickle is that real???

The true meaning of hiding the pickle in the Christmas tree is a mystery. Many people insist it is a German tradition, but I sure cannot ever remember that we did this in Germany. Maybe it was a family that settled the idea here in the United States. Nowadays Christmas markets in Germany are selling pickle ornaments but mainly for their American tourists.

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 (US German teachers) forum. Teachers of German in the US 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 tradition says the first child who finds the hidden pickle on Christmas morning will get an extra treat or gets to open their gifts first. In Germany, we open the gifts on Christmas eve and it is not Santa who brings the gifts either, that has become an American tradition as well. St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6th, 2020. Children set out a boot or shoe the night before outside their door and St. Nick fills it with some goodies. (For the ones on the good list, the bad listed children would get coal.) St, Nick was a slender figure with a bag and a warm coat and hat but he was fattened by American culture to the jolly ole soul we all know now. (In Germany the gifts are brought by the Christkind, which translate to Christchild, but it is an angel actually)

So, here is the great news for all my followers. On December 6, 2020, I will hold a Holiday party for everybody who would like to attend. In my cozy apartment, decorated for the holiday season. You can sit down, enjoy some food, take your holiday pictures here, and if you find the pickle, get a gift.

I will leave the apartment open after this as well for the official " The Hunt for the Kosher Pickle".

There will be other gifts as well, so look around, stay as long as you like, and come back often...you might get a clue to find an extra gift, All of this I will reveal later as I am getting ready to sort through my decor. 

Christmas is always a sad and happy day in my family. My mother passed away on Christmas Day while I was there on vacation. The happy part of this was I was there to have that moment to say thank you to her and I am sure that made it easier for her to relax and be at peace.

Hold on tight to memories and families as years pass and before you know it, you are old and wish you done or said something. Do it all now, while you think of it. 

Stay tuned for more details on the official " Hunt for the Kosher Pickle".