by Sherry Law
Though many people may disagree, it appears that the legend of the German Christmas Pickle is another example of what has come to be known as an “urban legend.”
According to several sites spread across the Internet, the German Christmas Pickle is a “very ancient Christmas eve tradition in Germany.” Supposedly generations of German parents would hide an ornament shaped like a pickle somewhere deep within the branches of their Christmas tree after all of the other ornaments had been hung. The first child to find the ornament the next morning got an extra present from St. Nick. If the first person to find the pickle was an adult, they were supposed to have good luck during the course of the next year.
When you look closely at the legend, however, it appears to fall apart. First, children in Germany traditionally open their gifts on Christmas Eve, not Christmas morning and St Nick generally visits on either the 5th or 6th of December. Both of these facts would make it impossible for the first child to see the pickle on Christmas morning to get an extra present from St Nick. But even more importantly is the fact that few, if any, native Germans have ever even heard of the tradition. Those that have apparently learned about it from either Americans or German friends who learned of it while visiting America.
So where did the legend of the German Christmas Pickle come from? One popular story being related across the Internet deals with a Bavarian-born Civil War soldier being captured and sent to prison in Andersonville, Georgia. In poor health, starving and fearing death, he is said to have begged one of the guards for a pickle. The guard found the poor man a pickle, which miraculously revived him and allowed him to live long enough to return to his family. Once there, he is said to have started the tradition of hiding the pickle among the boughs of the Christmas tree each year.
Regardless of whether this is the origin of the German Christmas Pickle or not, the fact remains that Germans do not claim the tradition, and though it is a cute and unusual legend, the German Christmas Pickle tradition appears to be a total fabrication.
About.com says “Urban legends are popular stories alleged to be true which spread from person to person via oral or written communication, “ and that they “tend to arise spontaneously and are rarely traceable to a single point of origin.” The legend of the German Christmas Pickle definitely seems to fall into the category of an urban legend. And like other urban legends, the who and why is probably destined to remain a mystery.
A Traditional Mexican Christmas with Recipe for Rosca de Reyes
Posted in Christmas Food by Santa
Looking for something fun and different for your Christmas meal? Try Rosca de Reyes (also known as Three King’s Cake), a traditional cake made in Spain and Mexico. Made out of bread dough, Rosca de Reyes is decorated with dried fruit and usually contains a figure of the baby Jesus hidden inside.
It is traditionally eaten on January 6, during the celebration of the “Día de Reyes” (Wise Men Day). In most of Spain, Mexico, and sometimes Hispanic communities in the United States, this is the day when children get presents from the Three Wise Men (not from Santa).
Tradition says that whoever finds the small baby Jesus in the Rosca de Reyes is blessed and must take it (a representation of baby Jesus) to the nearest church on the 2nd of February (Día de la Candelaria). In the Mexican culture, the person also has to throw a party and provide tamales and atole to the guests.
This article includes a recipe that will have you making this delicious treat in no time!
A Traditional Mexican Christmas with Recipe for Rosca de Reyes
By Jen E Carter
The Mexican Christmas festivities last for several weeks, starting on Dec 16th when the first of the Posada parties start. The celebrations remember Mary & Joseph’s journey to Bethlehem. Although initially a religious celebration, the Posada parties are now a big social celebration of the holiday season.
Every night until Noche Buena, December 24th, a party is held in a local home. The end to each posada is celebrated by the breaking of piñatas filled with candy and toys. On the night before Christmas, families often attend Midnight Mass together.
Although traditional children had to wait until January 6th, more families are allowing them to open their presents on Christmas Day. However, there are more celebrations to come.
On January 6th which is Epiphany, celebrations include:-
- Freshly baked Rosca de Reyes – a big oval wreath made out of bread dough and decorated with dried fruit and sugar
- Chocolate Caliente – steaming mugs of hot chocolate
- Tamales – can be a lot of work to make – steamed dumplings of rich, spicy filling wrapped in corn dough. There are three important components to a tamale: the wrapper, the dough and the filling. Although it’s rather complicated to make, no-one wonders why after they’ve taken their first bite!
Recipe for Rosca de Reyes
Ingredients
1 packet yeast
¼ cup of lukewarm milk
3 1/2 cups flour
3/4 cups of sugar
7 eggs
125 grams butter
1/4 aniseed
100 grams raisins
1 tsp vanilla
2 teaspoons of cinnamon
Pinch of salt
50 grams candied figs
50 grams candied orange
50 grams candied lemon
50 grams candied cherries
50 grams candied citron
1 beaten egg
sugar
flour
- Heat oven to 360° F ( 180°C)
- Dissolve the yeast in the lukewarm milk
- Mix the flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, butter, cinnamon, aniseed, raisins, vanilla and salt
- Kneed for five to ten minutes until pliable
- Place in a bowl, cover with a teatowel and place somewhere warm to rise (1-2 hours)
- Cut the candied fruits into strips
- Form the dough into a ring or rosca.
- Add the baby Jesus figurine.
- Place the ring on a baking tray decorating the top with the candied fruit.
- Leave to rise again for 20-30 minutes.
- Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle over with sugar.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes
Remove from the oven and serve to celebrate Christmas the Mexican way. Remember, tradition says that whoever finds the figurine of the baby Jesus has to host the next party!
Visit our website for further ideas for Mexican recipes and Christmas Recipes.
Find more recipes & cookbooks at the One Dollar bookstore.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jen_E_Carter
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