Day Sixteen...
~ Greetings dear friends ~ and a warm welcome to Day 16 of the 25 Days of Christmas with The Twisted Stitcher!
Today... I have to share with you a sweet little freebie by Log Cabin Needleworks.
"Noel"
I stitched it using DMC on 30 ct. unknown color - scrap piece of linen I used another tag on the corner and cut out a wee little 2013 and glued it on there too. The freebie design may be found: HERE
Today I am sharing.... with you our tradition of the Christmas Pickle. Here is our family's Christmas Pickle. It is lying in its box that we leave out for Santa on Christmas Eve by his plate of cookies, clearly marked (!) so that he knows to hide it on the tree.
Pfeiffer Family Christmas Pickle
Do you know the Christmas Pickle Legend?
The Christmas Pickle... The pickle is a German symbol of good luck. Traditionally, German parents decorated their tree on Christmas Eve, hiding the pickle ornament last. On Christmas morning, the first child to locate the pickle was rewarded with an extra gift from St. Nicholas.
This tradition... was not a part of my growing up, however it was a part of my husband's family traditions. In fact his paternal grandparents would do exactly as the tradition above stated. They lived on a farm in St. Meinrad, Indiana. On Christmas Eve after they attended Mass, they would come home, the kids would go to bed and then the magic began. His grandparents would go out and cut a cedar tree on their farm, bring it into the house and decorate it. Hanging the pickle on one of the branches. In the morning when the kids got up, the tree was there and decorated - brought by Santa Claus during the night. (along with the presents under the tree).
When we were first married... and assimilating familial traditions, I found it fascinating that the tree was brought by Santa. I also fell in love with the pickle tradition. So, although we put our tree up long before Christmas Eve, we leave the pickle to be hung by Santa. Our pickle is hand blown, painted glass and I purchased it from Vintage Glassworks. It was made in Poland. And it snuggles in its box from Christmas to Christmas and once found hangs front and center of our Christmas Tree until put away for next year. Instead of a special gift, the finder gets to open one of their presents first before any of the rest of us. Its a fine tradition that we have passed on to our children and one that they love and look forward to!
But, now a serious question.... What happens when you can't find the Christmas pickle? It was packed up in a box and now you can't find it? That has happened a Christmas or two here at our house. But you'll have to wait until tomorrow to learn of our back-up tradition!
And that folks... is Day 16!
Until Tomorrow, Vonna xxxx
Do you know the Christmas Pickle Legend?
The Christmas Pickle... The pickle is a German symbol of good luck. Traditionally, German parents decorated their tree on Christmas Eve, hiding the pickle ornament last. On Christmas morning, the first child to locate the pickle was rewarded with an extra gift from St. Nicholas.
This tradition... was not a part of my growing up, however it was a part of my husband's family traditions. In fact his paternal grandparents would do exactly as the tradition above stated. They lived on a farm in St. Meinrad, Indiana. On Christmas Eve after they attended Mass, they would come home, the kids would go to bed and then the magic began. His grandparents would go out and cut a cedar tree on their farm, bring it into the house and decorate it. Hanging the pickle on one of the branches. In the morning when the kids got up, the tree was there and decorated - brought by Santa Claus during the night. (along with the presents under the tree).
When we were first married... and assimilating familial traditions, I found it fascinating that the tree was brought by Santa. I also fell in love with the pickle tradition. So, although we put our tree up long before Christmas Eve, we leave the pickle to be hung by Santa. Our pickle is hand blown, painted glass and I purchased it from Vintage Glassworks. It was made in Poland. And it snuggles in its box from Christmas to Christmas and once found hangs front and center of our Christmas Tree until put away for next year. Instead of a special gift, the finder gets to open one of their presents first before any of the rest of us. Its a fine tradition that we have passed on to our children and one that they love and look forward to!
But, now a serious question.... What happens when you can't find the Christmas pickle? It was packed up in a box and now you can't find it? That has happened a Christmas or two here at our house. But you'll have to wait until tomorrow to learn of our back-up tradition!
And that folks... is Day 16!
Until Tomorrow, Vonna xxxx
More posts from Vonna Epperson Pfeiffer
