What is the name of the German tradition of hiding a pickle ornament in the Christmas tree?

The German Christmas-tree tradition of hiding a pickle ornament is called the Christmas pickle.

In this custom, someone hides a pickle-shaped decoration among the branches of a Christmas tree. The first person to find it—often a child—may receive an extra present, a small reward, or the promise of good fortune in the coming year. The ornament is usually made of colored glass rather than being an actual pickle.

The tradition is commonly described as German, but historians generally regard that origin story as doubtful. It is better understood as a German-American Christmas custom that developed in the United States, probably in the late 19th century, when imported German glass ornaments became fashionable. Many Germans today are unfamiliar with the practice, despite its persistent “old-world” reputation.

Several colorful legends try to explain the custom, including stories involving an imprisoned Bavarian soldier and a pickle that saved his life. These tales are not firmly documented. The name “Christmas pickle” remains the standard English answer, while Weihnachtsgurke is a later German label rather than proof of an ancient German tradition.