When our kids were little we started the tradition of buying ( or in some cases, making) each of them an ornament that represented something important to them that year. Each of them received a special box for their ornaments for safe-keeping as well. When our kids are ready to move out and decorate their very own tree, they will each have a box with ornaments to get them started. Each ornament also has their name and the date so that they will be able to remember the year they received it. We hope that these boxes of ornaments will be very special to each of them! 
Over the years, our kids have received ornaments of musical instruments, their schools, their hobbies, and their favorite foods (we have a bacon ornament~ hey, some years it is hard to come up with an idea!), among other things. Now you are thinking, AHA, one of their kids really liked pickles, that explains the ornaments, but you would be wrong.
Our oldest son's name is Nick. When he was little we would call him " Nicky" and that eventually evolved into "Nickle-Pickle"....I have no idea why ;). But anyway, one year when we were shopping for ornaments, we stumbled across a glass pickle ornament and that was that. Included with that pickle ornament came the story of the tradition of the pickle in the tree, which claimed it got started in Germany. The story explained that the parents would hide the pickle in the tree after the kids had gone to bed, and the first child to find the pickle in the morning would get to open the first present of Christmas. So we started that tradition in our family but as our kids got older ( or our trees more bare) we decided that the pickle needed to be harder to find, so bought a tiny pickle to hide. And that is why we have 2 pickle ornaments in our tree every year :). 
When I went to research the tradition of the pickle in the tree I did read that there is no proof that the tradition got started in Germany ( and apparently it is not a tradition in Germany), and in some families the tradition is to give an extra gift to the person who finds the pickle. I also learned that the tradition of looking for the pickle forces kids to focus on the pretty ornaments in the tree, rather than on what's under the tree, which I think is fun. Anyway, no matter what the true background is, the tradition is a fun one and one we definitely enjoy!
How about you? Do you have pickles in your tree, or some other "odd "ornament that needs explaining? Do share in the comments! I would love to know!
And if you would like to start your very own tradition of a pickle, I am providing this link for your convenience: Pickle ornament.
Next week I will be sharing some details about a new sewalong I'm starting in January. It will be a slow and simple one, but I like what I have designed so far and hope you will join in the fun! Here is a little sneak peek: 
So, until next time~happy creating!
Monique
