German Christmas traditions are becoming quite popular here in the United States. That’s good news for those who love elaborate and elegant ornaments. Germans tend to prefer high end items, and their Christmas decorations are no exception.
One German tradition of note is the glass pickle. According to legend, German parents would hide a pickle in the tree after all the other ornaments were up. Then, the first to find the pickle on Christmas morning would enjoy good luck for the next year. Stories of how this tradition began tend to differ on its true origin. Some say it stems from a German soldier fighting in the American Civil War. Others think its origins are too old to discover.
Many people in America have begun to adopt this German tradition as their own, but there’s a tiny problem. Surprisingly few Germans have ever heard of it! Glass pickles are commonplace on trees in certain parts of Germany, but not many are familiar with the significance of doing so. In any case, glass pickles are still beautiful accents to your tree.
German pyramids are another gorgeous German decoration. The pyramid is a tiered tower carved from wood. Each tier is like a little room, housing tiny figures around a central column. A fan on top makes it look like something from out of Da Vinci’s notebook. Candles at the base send warm air upwards, turning the fan blades, which in turn spins the central column, giving the illusion that the figures are moving on their own.
In addition to being lovely additions to your holiday tradition, both the glass pickle and the German pyramid are very fragile. Ornament storage devices, such as the OrnamentKeeper, are ideal for protecting your new traditions.
andy
Author