Why Do Some North Dakotans Have A Pickle On Their Christmas Tree?

While most Christmas trees in North Dakota are adorned with shiny bobbles and family keepsakes, others have a unique addition: a pickle.

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Yes, a pickle.

Why People Hang Pickles On Christmas Trees

The origin of the custom of placing a pickle on a Christmas tree varies amongst individuals.

According to Southern Living, the custom of hanging a pickle-shaped ornament is known as "Weihnachtsgurke."

"For many families, Christmas morning starts with a hunt for a pickle ornament, deemed the Christmas pickle, on the tree," reports Southern Living. "The first person who finds the pickle gets the first gift and bragging rights until next Christmas."

Many believe its roots can be traced back to Germany. That's unless you're actually from Germany.

German-Way.com claims that there isn't much history of pickles in Germany.

"Teachers of German in the U.S. and in Europe have never been able to find a native German who has ever heard of the pickle legend, much less carried out the Christmas custom," according to the website. "It may have been some German-American invention by someone who wanted to sell more glass ornaments for Christmas."

A writer aimed to share The Untold Story of the Christmas Pickle Ornament in 2021 on MarthaStewart.com. The theory that the custom was made up to sell more ornaments to gullible families was bolstered by the article.

"Historical evidence supports the theory that the tradition was most likely fabricated by salesmen during the late 1800s to promote German glass ornaments in American stores," MarthaStewart.com reported.

Where To Buy Pickle Ornaments For Christmas

Whether true or not, the narrative still holds up because pickle ornaments are once again available for purchase this Christmas at almost all major retailers.

A pickle ornament made of hand-blown glass that comes in a collectible box is available on Amazon. There is a description of the pickle "tradition" underneath the box's lid.

Heinz, a condiment manufacturer, has also entered the pickle ornament market by offering a variant of its logo emblazoned on the side of the decoration.

"But no matter how you slice, crunch, or stack it, the Christmas pickle isn't going anywhere anytime soon," according to Southern Living. "And as for where it came from, we care more about where it is now—and being the first to find it."