If you came into someone’s house and noticed a pickle-shaped ornament hanging from their Christmas tree, you’d probably do a double take. “What a strange ornament,” you might think. Little would you know, this inedible snack holds a special traditional meaning for your hosts, and probably made a child of theirs very happy, Prevention reports.
Traditionally, the first child to find the pickle ornament gets to open the first present, or gets an extra present, or sometimes has the job of distributing presents. It’s also a sign of good fortune for the year. As a child, that’s a pretty decent bonus when all you’ve done is hung a piece of blown glass, right?
The tradition, known as Weihnachtsgurke (German for “Christmas Pickle”), dates back to old-world Germany. Apparently German settlers brought the tradition to the American Midwest with them, where it remains the most likely place to see a pickle in someone’s tree.
There are various stories of how this tradition originated, varying from children being trapped Regardless, we think it’s super cute! The good news is, it’s more mainstream than you’d expect (who knew?!). Super cute pickle ornaments can be found for cheap on Amazon (for example: this one is just $7.74).