Saturday, December 4, 2010

THE CHRISTMAS PICKLE

Every Christmas my grandchildren and I enjoy a special holiday tradition that is based on the following legend:

According to his great-great granddaughter, John Lower was born in Bavaria in 1842.  He left Germany with his family and emigrated to the U.S.  While fighting in the American Civil War, John Lower was captured and was sent to a prison in Andersonville, GA.  He soon fell to poor health given the poor conditions of the prison.  Starving he begged a  guard for just one pickle before resigning to his death.  The guard, taking pity on him, found and gave John Lower a pickle.  Lower family tradition says that by the grace of God the pickle gave John the mental and physical strength to live on.  After being united with his family he began the tradition of hiding a pickle on the Christmas tree.  Hence, the first person who found the pickle on Christmas morning would be blessed with a year of good fortune…and a special gift, just as John Lower had experienced.    (www.pomnitz.net)

This  is  our  pickle

The grands spent the night with us yesterday and so the GREAT  PICKLE  HUNT took place.  They looked high...


They looked low...


until...




Look  who  found  the  PICKLE!

This, of course, did not go over well with little sister...but not to worry.  The pickle was hidden once again and the hunt went on...



with a little help...


and the pickle was found once again...
and special gifts for everyone:)...

P.S.  Brother & Sister spent quite awhile hiding the pickle for each other and finding it over and over.  So much fun from one little pickle!

Hope you and your family enjoy your own Christmas traditions and make sweet memories like this year after year.

22 comments:

  1. What a wonderful tradition and wasn't it great that they both had a chance to find the pickle. These are moments they will never forget.

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  2. What an interesting story! A humble pickle. Well, I see the grands had a grand time with your holiday pickle.
    Brenda

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  3. What a sweet story! It made me smile to see those sweeties looking for the pickle! One year on Christmas morning, we had a treasure hunt! That was a lot of fun but took a long time for everyone to find their gift!

    Looks like you are moving right along with the gift wrapping! That is what I am doing this evening! Have a wonderful rest of the weekend! HUGS!

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  4. Ahhh...I just love this story and your family tradition and I'd love to adopt it once I have some grandbabies ;) Thanks for sharing, fondly, Roberta

    ps...be sure to hop on over to my blog and check out the huge rubber stamp sale I'm having and all proceeds go to my favorite Charity. Thanks a bunch!

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  5. We have the pickle too! We've been doing this for about 12yrs or so...now everyone is gone, but I could do the hunt with Grandkiddos...my boys would almost knock the tree down trying to find it! Your Grandchildren are adorable and it looks like everyone went home happy!

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  6. O, Cheri..this is such a sweet and fun tradition. I have never heard the story before.
    I laughed about them hiding and hunting the pickle over and over...we did the same with Easter eggs for my kids and then, their kids. They would just flat wear those eggs OUT. hahaa..such fun.
    I had my 8 yr. old grandgirl last night. She is the best little bed partner and we had such a good time. AIN'T LIFE GRAND!!

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  7. We have one too, and yours looks like so much fun!!! What a bunch of cute grandchildren you have and it looks like so well behaved too!! I think the tree would be on it's keester in our house if they had a hunt for it!!!

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  8. That is so cute Cheri..in the end all was happy. I love that tradition!

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  9. What a cute picklish story! Two cute kiddies as well! I think that is a neat tradition! Unfortunately all of my Grands are grown up..*sigh*

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  10. If this isn't the cutest and funniest thing! I would like to have a Christmas pickle too! I guarantee you that this will be a story and a tradition that will continue through the years. Love this post,Cheri!

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  11. So cute Cheri!
    Adorable grandchildren, what a fun tradition to have!
    Hugs,
    Cindy

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  12. Love this post. I first learned of the pickle tradition last year as school, but they didn't give this legend behind. This is fascinating.

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  13. Cheryl..love it!! Your tree is so beautiful. I am missing so many of my decorations about 400 I figure..I gave them to the girls for their own trees last year..and now we just have ours..and lances..and when he ever leaves..my goodness..I need to shop..lol
    Where did you find that pickle?
    The grandchildren always put a smile on my face.
    Out of curiosity..does the little grand daughter look like your little one?

    Hugs and squeezes Cindy

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  14. So sweet...we hide a pickle in our tree, too!

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  15. What a cute tradition! Darling grandchildren...sweet smiles! :)
    Merry Christmas!

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  16. good morning. i enjoyed reading your story. i think it's great you do the pickle hunt. i enjoy my blessing tree feel free to consider. i may have to get a picle ornament. have a blessed day. rose

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  17. A lovely tradition. Most families have some kind of tradition, especially if children are involved. Since we have no children we have no set traditions, by as I mentioned in my previous blog I read the HOLY SCRIPTURE passages about the birth of Jesus, a little book of I found in my Mother's belongings (and perhaps meant for children-only 71 pages) entitled THE FIRST CHURCH CHRISTMAS BARReL, and from the sublime to the ridiculous, Lampoons Christmas Vacation. The little book is about giving your very best of everything and a few other themes.

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  18. How fun!! I always wondered what the story behind the pickle was. Thank you!!

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  19. Oh my goodness glory, this Ozark Farm Chick will never ever look at a pickle the same again. What a splendid tradition to go with the wonderful story. Girl, I'd have to have eight pickles. Yep, we're up to eight of the little boogers and our house is full. I'd have it no other way!!!! :o)

    Your grannies are simply precious. You are blessed!!!

    God bless ya'll from the very cold and windy hills and hollers of the Missouri Ponderosa!!!

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  20. Hey sweetie, I just wanted to pop over and thank ya for hoppin' on my blog. I sure do hope ya'll enjoy the ride!!!

    In the words of the wild and crazy little Granny Clampett, "ya'll come back now, ya hear!!! "

    Have a beautiful day sweetie!!!

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  21. I love this!!!! Thank you for all of the wonderful photos too. It was like joining in the fun. Hugs!

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  22. What a wonderful tradition and great photos, looks like the grands we're having a lot of fun!

    My great-great grandfather also survived being in prison for almost two years after he was captured at Gettysburg, I wonder if he had a pickle, lol. I'm going to think of this story every time I eat a pickle now. Thanks for sharing!

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