Epcot Pickle Ornament Story

[bavaria]

Yea I know.


To everyone who says this isn't a German tradition just SHUT UP! Unless your actually German or grew up in a German area you have no room to talk.And to the guy that keeps saying he called his friends and did a research study I honestly don't believe you.I highly doubt anyone would go to those lengths to try to disprove something.

And how exactly do you feel about the actual German citizens posting on this thread who have cited evidence from our own newspapers about this topic? Are we too not permitted to have this discussion?

There is a lot of misinformation and incorrect facts on this one thread alone. I stand next to my fellow countrywoman on the subject. It may have been a smart marketing ploy from a shop like Käthe Wohlfahrt which caters to the tourist market, or it may be from a very small, distinct region, but it is not widely known in our country.

The Polish connection may have some basis in fact as present day Poland includes former German territory.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

And how exactly do you feel about the actual German citizens posting on this thread who have cited evidence from our own newspapers about this topic? Are we too not permitted to have this discussion?

There is a lot of misinformation and incorrect facts on this one thread alone. I stand next to my fellow countrywoman on the subject. It may have been a smart marketing ploy from a shop like Käthe Wohlfahrt which caters to the tourist market, or it may be from a very small, distinct region, but it is not widely known in our country.

The Polish connection may have some basis in fact as present day Poland includes former German territory.

HUGS TO BAVARIA !!!!

Our Friend from Berlin...is actually back in town for the holidays...he thinks this whole thing is just silly...he has never heard of it. (As he stated last year when we discovered that this was not a "German Tradition". )

NOW - that said...yes - there may be a small village that this originates from... I don't know...

But I have an interest in this 'custom' and I'd love to find out...

From a Marketing Perspective....it's very interesting!

But there is NO evidence online that this IS an "authentic" German Tradition....

"Authentic" German Disney Pickle Hugs,

Mary

 

[bavaria]

I have been to your part of America many times, and I know for instance that there are many interesting traditions in that region which are custom there and not anywhere else in America.

So it is around the world. Witness 'Krampus', which is very specific to a very small region, and is manifested very differently depending on the town or village. I don't think for instance that Flossbolna has had the same Krampus experience as I, even though from the same state.

Sometimes a smart person experience something, and markets it, or a not so smart person experiences something and makes assumptions.

On a somewhat related note, bakeries in many parts of Germany sell a sweet called 'Americans' (none can make it as tasty as my mother, save for a German bakery in Beijing) What is an 'American?' It is what is called a 'black and white', and I had only heard that on the Seinfeld television program until I actually encountered them while working in Manhattan. They are not common all over America, yet in Germany they are given that very broad, generic name.

As we are moving into our Holy Night perhaps the bickering over the pickle can stop for at least awhile. In our household the Christ Child doesn't have anything to do with pickles but decorates the tree this evening and brings the presents, nor does (St) Nikolaus come (he came with Krampus several weeks ago)

Whatever one celebrates, may it be peaceful.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

Thank you very much for your perspective!

YES ! We have customs in Louisiana that are NOT observed or even known of in other areas of the United States!

I have not heard of the "american" or the "Black & WHite"....so I hope to figure this one out...

Yes - We are moving into the Christmas celebration....

Happy Christmas to YOU and ALL That read this! HUGS to all....

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! We WILL hide our "authentic German Pickle" whether or not it's a German tradition..it's been a FUN tradition with the family....



Mary

 

[Flossbolna]

Just wants to leave a Happy Christmas here for everyone!

Bavaria, thanks for backing me up! Here at my family the Christkind will arrive soon to decorate the tree as well!

 

[sunnyday123]

A few years back my mother and I were in Germany in Epcot and heard the story about the pickle. My sister in law is from Germany so we were thrilled to buy a pickle ornament to give to her for Christmas that year.
We were quite disappointed when she told us she had never heard of the tradition.

My Mother will tell anyone who will listen that it is NOT a German tradition!

Of course, one year in Macy's she told this woman, "We do not play hide the pickle on Christmas!" I almost wet myself laughing.

 

[sunnyday123]

Yea I know.


To everyone who says this isn't a German tradition just SHUT UP! Unless your actually German or grew up in a German area you have no room to talk.And to the guy that keeps saying he called his friends and did a research study I honestly don't believe you.I highly doubt anyone would go to those lengths to try to disprove something.

Wow. Get up on the wrong side of bed?

Here you go: I'm of German descent, my Mother came here when she was 15, so she is as well.

It's not a tradition they did, or ever heard about, until a few years ago. She belongs to the local German Club here, and they don't do it either.

And the PP who said they were doing "research" called a friend. They didn't ask for a grant to conduct a 5 year study on pickle ornaments.

Have a very Merry Christmas.

 

[wdwtweets]

I just wanted to wish everyone a very happy Christmas, whether you play hide the pickle at Christmas or not. lmao I hope tonight is a holy one for you and that your Christmas is filled with all of God's blessings.

 

[pickles]

Every Christmas my husband wants to play hide the pickle , but I am onto his ways...this year i have a headache and refuse to play that tradition

 

[jerlove]

Every Christmas my husband wants to play hide the pickle , but I am onto his ways...this year i have a headache and refuse to play that tradition

I have been reading these posts and laughing my but off over how defensive some people can become over what may or may not be an actual German tradition. I was waiting to get to the end where I could tell everyone who my wife and I play a "hide the pickle" game that is not family friendly but what do I see as the last post? Some one beat me to it. Oh well.

Lets all remember that we can never take what world showcase portrays as being truly authentic.. If that was the case then according to epcot we Canadians all dress up in lumber jack outfits and wile wearing our lumber jack outfits we drink maple syrup and exspensive ice wine while watching hockey.

It was my first time in the Canadian store at epcot a few weeks back and I got a kick out of what they sell in there. I did however score a perfect in the Canadian quiz and even got the bonus question.

 

[TinkerbellinLouisian]

LOL LOL LOL x 3!

Merry Christmas....and

Pickle Hugs to All....

Mary

 

[bavaria]

Bavaria, thanks for backing me up! Here at my family the Christkind will arrive soon to decorate the tree as well!

Well I had pretty much given up on this place, but a thread about German tradition and Anabaptists was just calling my name. Throw in the misinformation and the fact that someone was telling us to 'shut up' and I just had to post in support.

Now, I am still very confused as to how a Prussian pacifist sculptor joined the pickle debate back on page 1, however, unless it was to draw me in through the subject of pacifism?!

I think that someone just set up this whole thread using 'German', 'Anabaptists', 'Prussian', and 'pacifism' as hot buttons to lure me in! I hope that everyone who celebrates has a good Second Day of celebration (sorry, don't know how to translate Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag except as 'Boxing Day' for the UK and Canadian readers)

 

[bavaria]

Oh, and by the way, the 'German' noodle dish on the buffet at Epcot is no German Allgäuer Käsespätzle - it is all American macaroni and cheese.

The Epcot view of the world is slightly skewed, in case some have not noticed.

 

[RayaniFoxmur]

I've just been amazed at some of the posts in this thread. I am absolutely sure this will get ignored just like the people who have come into this thread and said they have known German people who do know of this tradition.

What is rude, and quite honestly heartbreaking is that some of us have upheld this tradition since we are little, and have passed it on to others. Then some people come in and make a gigantic joke out of the entire tradition.

Yes, TinkerbellinLouisian, I am referring to you. You have one friend from Germany who has never heard of this tradition, and suddenly you begin to laugh at all who call it a German tradition like we are all stupid. That's not appreciated, especially when other people have come into this thread who also have German ancestors, friends, and even exchange students who have heard of this tradition. But you ignore that and continue to laugh at us like we are stupid.

This entire thread has turned into a mess of laughing at people and hurt feelings for others. I respect others opinions, but does it really need to devolve into something like this? I come from very German ancestry myself, and I can respect that this tradition is not celebrated in a good part of Germany but I leave myself open to the fact that it may be regional.

Why can't others?

 

[wdwtweets]

ive always heard about this tradition but i havent ever seen this ornament .. is it sold year round in the germany pavillion at EPCOT ? Or just at christmas time??

Want to see my pickle? Here it is on the tree.

 

[bavaria]

I've just been amazed at some of the posts in this thread. I am absolutely sure this will get ignored just like the people who have come into this thread and said they have known German people who do know of this tradition.

What is rude, and quite honestly heartbreaking is that some of us have upheld this tradition since we are little, and have passed it on to others. Then some people come in and make a gigantic joke out of the entire tradition.

Yes, TinkerbellinLouisian, I am referring to you. You have one friend from Germany who has never heard of this tradition, and suddenly you begin to laugh at all who call it a German tradition like we are all stupid. That's not appreciated, especially when other people have come into this thread who also have German ancestors, friends, and even exchange students who have heard of this tradition. But you ignore that and continue to laugh at us like we are stupid.

This entire thread has turned into a mess of laughing at people and hurt feelings for others. I respect others opinions, but does it really need to devolve into something like this? I come from very German ancestry myself, and I can respect that this tradition is not celebrated in a good part of Germany but I leave myself open to the fact that it may be regional.

Why can't others?

The fact that this is not a known or celebrated tradition amongst the German population (and I am referring to German citizens not Americans living on a military base, or Americans of German ancenstry) shouldn't take away from your pleasure and enjoyment of a family tradition.

But this thread has been peppered with ignorant statements even after my fellow German citizen posted a factual article. Did you read her link? Did you read how this topic has been well researched and documented, and that the only factual evidence of such a tradition exists in America, not in Germany? While that doesn't mean that someone of German extraction didn't bring the practice to America, it does mean that it is not an active part of our tradition.

It is clear from this thread that many posters are lacking basic knowledge of history or geography or religion, and there are many posts which are quite insulting to us, quite frankly. That includes more than the poster who told us to 'shut up' (and I am quite surprised that post was allowed to remain, although I now understand that the poster may still be a child/youth and perhaps was given some extra leeway)

I think that we have remained pleasant and have continued to provide facts and offer suggestions and good holiday wishes, even though not everyone has offered the same in return.

So go and celebrate whatever you celebrate however you celebrate, and maybe not worry so much about whether your tradition is 'authentic' or not. If it is your tradition, why does it matter so much whether it is American, or Prussian, or Polish, or Bavarian? Chances are than if it was brought to America it was done so when 'Germany' didn't even exist.

 

[Sandy321]

Oh, and by the way, the 'German' noodle dish on the buffet at Epcot is no German Allgäuer Käsespätzle - it is all American macaroni and cheese.

The Epcot view of the world is slightly skewed, in case some have not noticed.

Thank you Bavaria - ITA with your posts, and I am glad you were drawn into the thread to add your knowledge! Its appreciated.

We also have German Background. DH's father German - he was a fun man, but not "warm and fuzzy"! We often felt the pickle must be a German small town tradition - and never got into it - but to each their own -

I have a watermelon on my tree (glass ornament) - I'm sure most dont "get" it and I dont have a problem with it! (

 

[wdwtweets]

Well, this has certainly been an interesting thread. All of this arguing over a glass pickle?

 

[AliceinHalloweentown]

Actually, we have a pickle in our tree- and its not from WDW, nor did we find out about the "tradition" there.

There's an old mansion/estate here you can tour and everyone one of it's Christmas trees (it was decorated beautifully for Christmas) had a pickle, and they explained the story behind them during the tour and so we bought one for our own.

 

[Flossbolna]

Well I had pretty much given up on this place, but a thread about German tradition and Anabaptists was just calling my name. Throw in the misinformation and the fact that someone was telling us to 'shut up' and I just had to post in support.

Now, I am still very confused as to how a Prussian pacifist sculptor joined the pickle debate back on page 1, however, unless it was to draw me in through the subject of pacifism?!

I think that someone just set up this whole thread using 'German', 'Anabaptists', 'Prussian', and 'pacifism' as hot buttons to lure me in! I hope that everyone who celebrates has a good Second Day of celebration (sorry, don't know how to translate Zweiter Weihnachtsfeiertag except as 'Boxing Day' for the UK and Canadian readers)

I am glad you came back to this place! And thanks for your latest post!