The Christmas Pickle is a German tradition where a pickle ornament is hidden in the Christmas tree, and on Christmas morning the kids go searching for it, whoever finds the pickle first gets to open the first present. This connects to my family because it is the only German tradition my Great-Grandparents kept when they came from Germany. They had come in the middle of World War Two, so as Germans they dropped every bit of distinction they could (besides the last name); they didn’t keep almost any traditions and did not teach their children German or allow them to speak German. That being said, this tradition, being a very small bit of our culture we kept, is a very important thing to my family; it is not only a connection to our culture but also to our ancestors. I believe this example shows us that being an American is the ability for our family to come here and become Americans, while years later we can still appreciate where our ancestors come from and our passed-down culture. Of course, as someone who appreciates many cultures, I hold my small tradition close to my heart. 

– AP

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more