The Christmas Pickle

Years ago, just for fun, my mother-in-law introduced the tradition of the Christmas Pickle.  The first few years we had a pickle that she had fashioned out of floral tape, but then I bought her a proper glass pickle that she could hang on the tree.  (In fact, I bought her and 10 other people Christmas Pickles that year, as they were cheaper by the dozen.)  She continued to hide the pickle and gave the child who found it a small present.   Sadly, she passed away in 2006, and I found that I kept forgetting to hide the pickle on Christmas morning.  So for the past 3 or 4 years, I have waited until Epiphany,or the Twelfth day of Christmas to hide the pickle.  This year, it was quickly and unceremoniously found by Patrick.  I have to get smarter about hiding it, I need decoy pickles, and ornaments with hiding spots in them.  Even though he shared his treat with his siblings, Griffin was left feeling quite unsatisfied. 

Minutes later, Griffin says,  "Look, I found the pickle."  He had a sly grin on his face as he took me by the hand and pointed at the tree.  (One could follow the trail of pickle juice back to the kitchen counter.)

After he "found" it, he picked the needles off of it and ate it!  I hope he has luck for the rest of the year!