Have you ever heard of the Christmas tree pickle? It is a tradition that recently came onto the map for families around the world.
What is the Christmas pickle tradition?
The Christmas pickle is hidden on somewhere on the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve. On Christmas morning, whoever finds the pickle gets a prize of some sort! This prize could be in the form of money, they get to open the first present, or plain good luck will come your way!
Where did the tradition come from?
There are several theories, but none are proven true. Though the most popular theory is that a captured Union army soldier was starving in a prison camp. On Christmas Eve, he begged the guard for a pickle before he died. The guard gave him one and it essentially saved his life. When the soldier returned home, he began the tradition of hanging a pickle on his family’s Christmas tree each year!
Whether you hang a pickle on your tree or not, data shows that Americans love their pickles! Americans eat more than 9 pounds of pickles a year. Michigan and North Carolina lead the nation in pickle production.
Story via Jennifer McClellan with USA Today
