Thursday, December 4, 2008

Christmas Pickle

German pickle ornament
According to German Traditions the pickle brings good luck and is the last ornament to be placed on the tree.

On Christmas morning the child that finds the pickle was rewarded from St Nick with an extra gift. The German tradition was so that the children would enjoy all the ornaments on the tree besides the gifts from St. Nick.

Ok, so thats not reality!  I started this tradition with my girls, as my Great Grandfather was from Germany.  Oh and let me tell you the completion on Christmas morning to find the pickle, well you can imagine.  To my Horror they would almost tear the tree to shreds!  Isn't it great to make those holiday memories...  Ho Ho

xoxo,
Cathleen

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Cathleen! I was at Screaming Meme's blog and she was raving abot you so I popped in! Oh, first of all - you're just beautiful! Your blog is beautiful! Your family is beautiful! My daughter and son-in-law used to live in Santa Barbara - he was at UCSB - and we would drive by the gorgeous homes in Montecito and wish we could see in! Thanks for opening up the doors to take a few peeps!
Oh, I have the Desert Rose patterned dishes too! How precious you have these handed down to you! I'll be back to see you and learn from you!! Would you mind if I advertise you, too, on my blog so people can start learning from you?
Be a sweetie,
Shelia :)

Meg said...

Okay...I need a pickle on my tree now...!

Hope you are well and staying warm...oh wait...you probably don't have cold weather there, ~sigh~


Hugs!

Unknown said...

Very cute!
Really enjoying your blog.
Catherine

cotedetexas said...

What a charming tradition! The pickle - too cute!!!

Thanks so much for your comment tonight!!

JOni

squawmama said...

Good Morning Cathleen... Shelia sent me over to visit for a while... Glad I came your blog is really nice... I am adding you to my favorites and hope you'll come by and visit me. When you do please sign my guestbook and if you want to follow my blog just click on it... Love the pickle... we have had one for years that we hid in our tree...Isn't that the cutest story. Great meeting you... I am following you now.. Have a great day!

(((HUGS)))
Donna

Anonymous said...

Hi! Shelia sent me over to check out your blog and I am sooooo glad she did! I quickly read a few of your recent posts and I agree with Shelia--you have a great blog!
I LOVE the pickle ornie story!

Dana of The Stone Rabbit

Neabear said...

Came over here from Shelia's blog. Fun visiting you. I love the button ornaments. Lots of great ideas to do with buttons. Have a great day!

Rue said...

Hi Cathleen :)

Shelia introduced you on her blog, as I'm sure you know and I've been reading it for about 30 minutes. Beautiful blog!

I have a pickle ornament too, because it came with a box of wedding ornaments. Now I know what the reason is for it :)

Have a great night and welcome to Blogland!

rue

The Raggedy Girl said...

Shelia sent me!!! She said your blog is really great. I will start reading back and get to know you. I want a pickle too!!
Roberta Anne

Unknown said...

Welllllllllll .... !!!!
Now let me get this straight: Over here in Germany we celebrate Christmas on the 24th! In the evening. In a festive outfit.
Roughly it goes like this: 24th: Morning decorate the real fresh tree from a Xms tree market (1 m = 20 Euros) with traditional ornaments, balls and wax (white or red) or elec. candles. Have easy lunch like stew or similar. Afternoon get dressed up, go to church, if kids in the houshold at 15:00 otherwise at 17:oo come home, aperitiv like Sekt = German champangne, give each other the presents, may take long, depending on everybody watching what the other person has got.....
eat festival dinner like Raclette, Fondue, great fish, former times Würstchen and Kartoffelsalat, drink wine, eat, drink, eat, drink, eat drink all in festival outfit! Some people go to midnight mass if they had not been before. Go to bed not before 24:00.
Next morning ordinary breakfast, no presents in the pajamas, since we have them already!!!! Midday festival food: goose or turkey or other big thing... some people go out for Christmas buffets.

More questions?
Drop me a mail:
reginasiebrecht@gmail.com

Happy holidays! There is definitely no cucumber on our trees nor have I ever heard of it nor is it a sign for good luck. Signs for good luck are pig, chimney sweep, clover, no cucumber.!!!


Gina from Germany

DESIGN BY CATHLEEN said...

I did a little more investigating for you Gina! You know us Americans we don't always get things right! We have been sold here in the States that this is german tradition, I was trying to honor my heritage! So excited to hear from a German Blogger, Would love to see pictures of your festive outfits, and tree ornaments!!! Happy Blogging!
xoxo,
Cathleen

Legendary Pickle Ornaments

http://www.catholicsupply.com/CHRISTMAS/glassornpickle.html

History of Ornaments
http://www.ornamentshop.com/history_story/part2.asp

Pickle Myth
http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth11.htm

DESIGN BY CATHLEEN said...

Gina..... It's just a pickle!