Did you know that in Germany, nearly every Christmas tree features a glass pickle ornament? This unique tradition began in the 1880s with a clever American sales clerk at a retail store selling glass ornaments shaped like fruits and vegetables. While most ornaments were popular, the green glass pickles weren't selling—perhaps due to their odd shape or tendency to blend into the tree. To clear his unsold stock, the clerk invented a story: in Germany, it was traditional to hide a real pickle in the Christmas tree, and the first child to find it would open their presents first. This tale captivated New York City's customers, many of whom were European immigrants. They eagerly bought these pickles, and some even sent them to relatives in Germany, suggesting using a glass pickle instead of a real one. These American glass pickles became a status symbol in Germany, leading to their widespread popularity. Now, almost every German Christmas tree has one, all thanks to a story from a clerk in the 1880s.

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