 |
The Christmas Pickle |
.
| .
The Medieval tale of the pickle
tells of two Spanish boys traveling home from boarding school for the holidays.
Weary from travel, they stop at an inn for the night. The inn keeper,
a mean and evil man, steals the boys' possessions, and stuffs the boys
into a pickle barrel.
. That evening, St. Nicholas stops in for a rest at the inn, and becomes aware of the boys' plight. He taps the pickle barrel with his staff, and the boys are magically restored. The boys thank St. Nicholas, and continue happily home for Christmas. . The tradition of trying to find the little ornament shaped like a pickle began many years ago in Laschau, Germany. Pickle ornaments were considered a special decoration by many families in Germany where the fir tree was decorated on Christmas Eve. It was always the last ornament to be hung on the Christmas tree, with the parents hiding it deep among the green boughs. . When the children were allowed to view the tree, they would begin searching for the Pickle ornament. The children knew that whoever first found that special ornament would receive an extra little gift left by St. Nicholas for the most observant child. If the family could not afford such extras, the pickle finder was rewarded by being the first to open presents. . Production of the blown glass Christmas ornament started in the1890's. . In a small Michigan community of two thousand, called Berrien Springs, an annual Christmas Pickle Festival is held during the early part of December. The older generation from Berrien Springs recall from their youth always having pickles on their trees. With this area of Michigan being a pickle-producing region, Berrien Springs is recognized as the Christmas Pickle Capital of the World by the Pickle Packers International. They celebrate with a parade kickoff led by the Grand Dillmeister, who passes out fresh pickles along the parade route. A Christmas Pickle Ornament can be purchased from the Museum Store, or for the more adventurous, even a pair of gurken earrings or Chocolate-Covered Sweet Pickles can be had. For more information regarding the Berrien Country Historical Society, please see their official web site. . |
.
.
Back
to... Christmas Pages
.
Table
of Contents
