In some homes, decorating the tree is an art form: every color carefully chosen, every ornament perfectly placed, creating an aesthetic Christmas masterpiece straight out of a catalog.
In other homes, the décor is a delightful hodgepodge of memories and cherished traditions: kids' school creations saved for decades, grandma's hand-crafted stockings on the mantle, and a mix of sentimental keepsakes adorning the tree.
As a kid, many traditions kept the magic of the season alive for me, but none was better than the Christmas pickle.
Each year we would wait until the day after Thanksgiving to decorate. We'd spend the day listening to KOSI 101.1, drinking cocoa and cider, helping mom haul out the boxes from the basement and of course -- trimming the tree.
My mom had an affinity for collecting ornaments that were beautiful and reminded her of happy memories. Delicate glass pears, a baby seal in a Santa hat and a cat with a fishbowl were a few of my favorites.
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There was one ornament that we, as kids, never got to hang, but it was our favorite ornament of all: the Christmas pickle.
It's an American Christmas tradition: Hide the pickle in the tree, and the first person to find it on Christmas morning gets an extra present. The tradition is widely believed to have German roots, but its true origins are a bit of a mystery.
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In our house, the pickle ornament would be the last one hung among the pine needles of the tree. My mom would hang it when we weren't around to see.
Each year on Christmas morning, it was a frantic scramble to find the pickle; we knew that extra gift would be something special.
With elbows flying, my sister and I searched until one of us finally found the green treasure hidden among the branches.
And the reward for our prickly pickle pursuit? A deliciously marinated jar of grandma's homemade pickles.
Have a Christmas tradition you'd like to share with us? Send an email to [email protected]
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