Christmas is a time of traditions and customs. I would like to explain one of these customs here, a couple of years ago I visited a US online shop which sells Christmas decoration, and I could not believe my eyes a replica of a gherkin(cornichon) or cucumber. Over the years I have seen very divers christmas decoration some of it on the border of good taste but never a gherkin.
This gherkin let me wonder so I researched and found several theories the most common theory is that this is in fact a german custom, although almost unknown in Germany but widely practiced in the USA as a German custom.
What is this custom about?
Although there a many variations this is the custom which is most likely to me. On christmas shortly before the children unwrap their Christmas gifts the parents hide a gherkin for each of their children then from a distance the children try to find the gherkins the child which finds the first gherkin may unwra its presents first, the second to find a gherkin second and so forth.
This is the most likely theory as German parents like to do things in an orderly manner, that is probably why this custom becoming more and more popular in Germany again.
A German glassblower we found even still had the original moulds so here are the real Christmas cucumbers.
Size: aprox: 9 cm
