What Is the Quirky Louisiana Christmas Pickle Tradition?

LOUISIANA (KMDL-FM) - Louisiana is rich with tradition, and there's no exception when it comes to holiday traditions in South Louisiana. Have you ever heard of "The Christmas Pickle" or "Hide the Pickle"?

There are many families all across Acadiana and South Louisiana that have enjoyed this quirky Christmas tradition for generations.

Here's what the Louisiana Christmas tradition is all about...

What Is the Christmas Pickle Tradition?

If your Louisiana Christmas tree has a little pickle hidden deep in the branches, you’re not alone. The "Christmas Pickle", also called “Hide the Pickle,” is a fun holiday tradition where a pickle-shaped ornament is tucked and hidden into the tree after it’s decorated.

On Christmas morning, kids, and competitive adults, search for it. Whoever finds the pickle first usually wins a prize, like opening the first gift, getting an extra present, or just bragging rights for the rest of the holiday season.

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Why Louisiana Families Love the Pickle Tradition

In Louisiana, holiday traditions are all about family, food, and fun — and the Christmas Pickle fits right in. It doesn’t matter if your celebration includes gumbo, boudin, or specialty meats. Adding a fun pickle hunt gives everyone one more reason to gather around the tree and make life-long memories.

Is the Christmas Pickle Really a German Tradition?

You’ll often hear that the Christmas Pickle came from Germany, but the truth is a little murky. While the ornament is sometimes called Weihnachtsgurke, most Germans have never heard of the tradition.

It seems that popularity of "The Christmas Pickle" could be the result of good old fashioned marketing.

One popular theory is that the tradition gained traction in the United States during the late 1800s, when American stores sold imported German glass ornaments and marketed the pickle as an “old European custom.”

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You can read more about "The Christmas Pickle" and buy your pickle ornament over at oldworldchristmas.com.