A Pickle On The Tree

There is a funny thing on our Christmas tree and I've never known why. Seriously. Every year I put it up, every year I wonder, every year I get the same response (from my Mother-in-Law): "It just goes there...that's all I know. But you have to put it up."

What is this funny thing? A hand-blown pickle. Yes. Green and lumpy and curved. A pickle. On our Christmas Tree. Why? I don't know but it seemed important and I'm all about letting people have the things that are important to them. Plus, I figured if not hanging the flippin' pickle would curse the family (or something) I'd just hang the silly thing. I mean, it's green. It kind of blends in. Anywho.

A week or so ago my friend, Christine Warner, posted about her favorite holiday ornaments and I happened to mention the pickle. Because, come on, weird ornament contest? A pickle wins hands-down. Turns out Christine knows the answer - or at least one answer and since the only other answer I've ever gotten was 'just because' I'm going to with hers. Here goes:

You're supposed to hang the pickle on Christmas Eve and it's supposed to be kind of hidden. Then, Christmas morning, the first person to find the pickle gets a little something extra from Santa (she says it's usually a candy bar or something like that). So, it's just a fun tradition. I like traditions. I also like candy and so I'm taking the pickle off the tree and instituting Christine's tradition this year - the pickle will return on Christmas Eve!

Okay, your turn: Have a fun/silly/strange holiday tradition? Share it in the comments.