We Pittsburghers treasure our traditions – from packing downtown on Light Up Night, the official start of the holiday season, to gathering to watch the ball go up on New Year’s Eve. As Pittsburghers, we also love pickles. How many other cities, after all, do you know that have an annual festival dedicated to the pickle? Some of us even have a Christmas pickle on our tree. Read on to learn more about why the pickle Christmas tree tradition is one of our favorites!

While the tradition of the Christmas pickle didn’t originate in Pittsburgh...
Wikipedia/Christbaumschmuck der Firma Inge-Glas
... it’s become a beloved holiday tradition in homes all across the city and the suburbs.
The exact origins of where this treasured tradition began really isn’t known, although it is believed to have come from Germany in the 19th century.
Fuzzy Gerdes/Flickr
One theory, however, dates it back to Pennsylvania during the Civil War.
State legend tells the story of a Bavarian-born private who had been captured and held prisoner during the war.
Flickr/Andrew Malone
On Christmas Eve, when he could take the nagging hunger no longer, he asked a guard for a pickle. The guard complied.

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After the war, the private returned home.
Flickr/Jamie Anderson
And according to the legend, he hid a pickle on his Christmas tree every year thereafter.
Whether the legend started in Germany, as some have suggested, or right here in PA, it’s been treasured for generations.
Flickr/Marco Verch Professional Photographer
The first kiddo to find the pickle is supposed to get a gift while the first adult that catches sight of it is promised good luck in the New Year.
Pittsburgh was supposed to pay homage to the Christmas pickle in 2020 with a display of the World’s Largest Pickle Ornament. However, during installation in November, the pickle popped.
Flickr/Kate
Still, we can honor the treasured tradition by putting the Christmas pickle on the tree after all other ornaments have been placed (as the tradition calls for). And you can also attend the annual Picklesburgh Pickle Festival held during the summer!

Do you have a Christmas pickle on your tree? Would you agree that this is a fun way to celebrate Christmas in PA? What are your favorite holiday traditions? Share your experience in the comments!

And if this isn’t enough, here are just a few weird and wacky Pittsburgh traditions with which most of us are familiar!

If you’re interested in making a weekend trip to Pittsburgh, be sure to consider the Courtyard Pittsburgh Downtown.

Looking for some wonderful holiday treasures for family and friends? Then be sure to check out our guide to More Than 75 Of The Best Gift Ideas For The Traveler In Your Life.

If you’re still in the mood for more Pennsylvania adventures, take a look at this video about the Philadelphia Magic Garden:

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More to Explore

More To Love About Pennsylvania

Lysa Allman-Baldwin | November 07, 2023
  • Where can we learn about Pennsylvania history?
    • The Meadowcroft Rockshelter – Located near Avella in Washington County, this is the site of what is believed to be the oldest known evidence of humanity in the Americas. The artifacts date back at least 16,000 years.
    • Ole Bull State Park – Located in Cross Fork, the land was originally plated in the hopes of creating a Norwegian settlement for the many Norwegians who had come to the area at that time. Unfortunately, that idea only lasted a year, but the park is a beautiful remnant.
    • The Raven Rock Mountain Complex – Located near Blue Ridge Summit, the complex—which is also known as “Site R”—was designed to serve as a second Pentagon should there be a nuclear attack on the United States. This was during the Cold War

    Read on to learn more about the deep and rich Pennsylvania history.

    Where can we find state parks in Pennsylvania?

    • Ravensburg State Park along the Jersey Shore features a hiking trail, picnic spots, and campsites.
    • Erie Bluffs State Park in Lake City features soaring bluffs and fishing and boating opportunities.
    • Allegheny Islands State Park in Cheswick is a  43-acre state park only accessible by boat.

    Read on to learn more about some of the many other amazing state parks in Pennsylvania.

    Where can we find campgrounds in Pennsylvania?

    • The Splash Magic RV Resort by Rjourney in Northumberland offers a rustic camping experience with traditional tent and RV sites, cabins, and a waterpark.
    • The Deer Run Camping Resort in Gardners has both primitive and deluxe campsites as well as a full lineup of activities.
    • The Colonial Woods Family Camping Resort in Upper Black Eddy offers a lot of amenities like a spa, heated swimming pool, children's spray pool, and miniature golf.

    Read on to learn more about some of the many other beautiful campgrounds in Pennsylvania.

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