The Christmas Pickle

Advent Stories and messages from around the world

December 7, 2021

“The Christmas Pickle”

Luke 2:15-18; Matthew 2:10-11

In yesterday’s devotion, I talked about how my wife and I hide a cross in the middle of our Christmas tree each year. It’s our way of remembering and conveying to others that Jesus was hung on a tree (cross) for our sins. And that there would be no Christmas without the birth, death, and resurrection of Christ.

For the last ten years or so, there has been another ornament we also hide on the tree. It’s the Christmas Pickle. The photo you see above is of a Christmas Pickle Tree in Germany at Walt Disney World’s EPCOT.

The legend of the Christmas Pickle goes something like this: In Germany hundreds of years ago. The last decoration placed on the tree was a pickle, carefully hidden in the branches. The legend says that the child who found the pickle on Christmas morning would receive a special gift.

My wife and I hide a Christmas pickle somewhere in our tree each year. Then, whoever finds it on Christmas morning gets to open the first present.

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On that first Christmas, the Shepherds followed the directions of an angel and found a baby in a manger.

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So, they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.” Luke 2:15-18

Several months later, Magi (Wisemen) came from the east, following a star for direction. They, like the shepherds, found the child and His family.

When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2: 10-11

Both the shepherds and the Magi were led to and found a special gift. The shepherds found the baby Jesus and His parents tucked away in a stable, lying in a manger. The Magi found baby Jesus in the humble home of a commoner.

That Christmas night, not only did the Shepherds receive a special gift, but so did the whole world. Christ the Savior was born. God the Son had come down to live amongst us and save us from our sins by sacrificing Himself for you and me.

Dear Lord. Your Son, Jesus, was born quietly in a stable in a manger. But, He did not remain silent for long. He did what no person on earth could do; He died so we might live. Lord, thank you for sending the special gift of your Son, Jesus.

Amen.