Why Do People Hang Pickle Ornaments On Their Christmas Trees?

The tradition of hanging pickle ornaments on Christmas trees is believed to have originated in Germany. The Christmas pickle ornament is usually a glass ornament shaped like a pickle, and it is hidden somewhere on the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

According to the tradition, the first child to find the pickle ornament on Christmas morning gets an extra present or is said to have good luck for the coming year. The tradition is sometimes called the "German Christmas Pickle" or "Weihnachtsgurke" in German.

Another story suggests that the pickle Christmas ornament is a marketing gimmick created by a glass ornament company in the late 19th century. According to this story, the company began producing pickle-shaped ornaments and invented the tradition of hiding them on the Christmas tree as a way to boost sales.

However, it's worth noting that the tradition of hanging pickle ornaments on Christmas trees is not universally practiced in Germany and some Germans are actually unaware of it. In fact, the tradition seems to be more popular in the United States than in Germany itself.

Despite its unclear origins and popularity, hanging a pickle ornament on a Christmas tree has become a fun and quirky tradition for many families around the world. If you are looking to add one to your family's Christmas tree, Old World Christmas makes a few different glass pickle ornaments.