A Christmas Pickle? What’s That?

Gather around teacher friends! This year, we want to teach you about one of the quirkiest and most delightful holiday traditions: the Christmas Pickle! You might be scratching your head, thinking, “Why on Earth would anyone put a pickle on their Christmas tree?” We will unravel this strange concept for you and give you the lowdown on this dill-ightful Christmas tradition!

What is the Christmas Pickle Tradition?

While it seems strange, here’s the fun rundown of the Christmas Pickle Tradition.

At one time, the legend of the Christmas pickle was thought to have come from Germany. However, the truth is that no one is really sure where the tale came from. Some say it started with a store trying to sell ornaments, and others say it began during the Civil War when a starving soldier was saved when his captors gave him a pickle to eat on Christmas Eve. The story and strange tradition have been passed down for many years; honestly, it sounds fun! 

Here’s the ‘dill’ on the legend of the Christmas Pickle.

The Christmas pickle tradition begins on Christmas Eve once your tree is fully decorated. Before going to bed on Christmas Eve, parents hide a green, pickle-shaped ornament inside the tree. The tree’s camouflage makes it very hard to find. On Christmas morning, after everyone wakes up, the hunt begins! The children in the family must race to locate and remove the Christmas pickle from its hiding spot. The best part of this tradition? The person who finds it can open the first gift or be given an extra one. It is also said that finding the Christmas pickle brings a year of good luck.

This Christmas Pickle Ornament Craft is a Big ‘Dill’!

This printable Christmas paper craft is a fun way to introduce your students to a new Christmas tradition. Using this template, students can color and cut out their Christmas Pickle ornament, add some string, and take the pickle and its story home to share with their family.

The Christmas Pickle Poem

To start a tradition that will surely last,

Here is the story of a pickle of glass.

The night before Christmas it’s hung in the tree,

while everyone’s sleeping, it’s done secretly.

And on Christmas morning, when you arise,

the one pickle finder will get a surprise!

It is a family tradition for all to share.

You’ll look for the pickle year after year.

Easily Download & Print Your Christmas Paper Crafts

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to download the PDF version of this resource. 

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Before you go, make sure you check out our other printable Christmas crafts and paper ornament templates!

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