If you’ve ever spent the holidays in a Michigan home, you might have noticed a unique decoration hanging from the Christmas tree: a pickle.
Yes, you read that correctly—a pickle. But what’s the reason behind some Michigan families placing a pickle on their Christmas tree, and where does this tradition come from? The answer isn’t as straightforward as you might expect.
The Tradition of the Christmas Pickle
The Christmas pickle tradition involves a game where a pickle-shaped ornament is hidden among the tree’s branches. The person who discovers the pickle first on Christmas morning receives a special reward, such as an extra gift, a privilege, or good luck for the upcoming year. This tradition is believed to have originated in Germany, with some referring to it as the Weihnachtsgurke, meaning Christmas pickle in German.
However, there’s a hitch in this explanation: the majority of Germans are unfamiliar with the Christmas pickle tradition, and most have never practiced it.
According to a 2016 survey by YouGov, only 9 percent of Germans were aware of this custom, and many of them learned about it from Americans. So, if the Christmas pickle isn’t truly German, where did it come from?
Potential Origins of the Christmas Pickle
Various theories and legends surround the origins of the Christmas pickle, yet none are definitive or verifiable. Here are some of the most popular ones:
One story suggests that the Christmas pickle dates back to the American Civil War when a German-American soldier named John C. Lower was captured and imprisoned by the Confederates. Starving, he begged a guard for a pickle, which the guard gave him out of pity. The pickle provided him with the strength and hope to survive, and upon his return to his family, he initiated the tradition of hiding a pickle on the tree.
Another tale recounts a medieval story about St. Nicholas rescuing two boys who were killed and stuffed in a pickle barrel by an evil innkeeper. St. Nicholas revived the boys, and the pickle became a symbol of this miraculous event. However, this story might have been adapted from another legend about St. Nicholas saving two boys from a meat barrel, not a pickle barrel.
A more plausible explanation is that the Christmas pickle originated as a marketing strategy by German glassblowers who crafted ornaments in the shapes of fruits, nuts, and vegetables, including pickles. These ornaments were imported to America in the late 19th century, and a clever salesman might have invented the story of the German tradition to boost sales of pickle ornaments.
The Christmas Pickle’s Popularity in Michigan
Regardless of its true origins, the Christmas pickle has become a popular and enjoyable tradition in many American households, particularly in the Midwest, where there’s a significant population of German immigrants.
Michigan, in particular, has embraced the Christmas pickle as part of its culture and even hosts an annual pickle festival in Berrien Springs, known as the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World. The festival includes a parade, a pickle contest, and a visit from the Pickle Princess.
The Christmas pickle remains a mystery, yet it brings delight to many families who relish the challenge and reward of finding the hidden ornament. Whether you believe in its German roots, its American history, or its whimsical charm, the Christmas pickle offers a distinctive and quirky way to celebrate the holiday season.
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