Large Cucumber. Vegetable  for the Xmas Tree.  1920s German Glass Ornament.

5.00", and in very good condition.

The first ornaments for the tree were edibles: fruit, nuts, cookies, and various candies. When the tree was taken down on the twelfth day of Christmas all was consumed with glee. Glass ornaments were initally created for the poor who could not afford the read thing. Pus they could be used year after year. A very interesting fact about glass fruit and vegetable oraments.

Why a pickle for the tree? Americans were extremely proud to have their own gardens and grow their own food. As an early agricultural nation, food meant substance and abundance. Thus vegetables like fruit found their way to the tree, in the form of glass ornaments. Yes, there are also diaries of farm families hanging veggies on their tree, often gold gilded.

NO FIND PICKLE ON THE TREE FOR A PREENT. THIS IS A 1980S  ADVERTISING PLOY TO SELL PICKLE ORNAMENTS. AGAIN GERMANS THOUGHT IT STRANGE THAT AMERICANS WANTED PICKLES ON THEIR TREE.

This was a cottage industry in the area of Lauscha, Germany.  In the winter, nothing to do in the fields, and this was a way for the family to make extra money.  The fathers and the older sons blew to ornaments from clear glass. The Women and the older girls then would silver the ornaments. After drying for a few days, they would hand paint the ornaments.  Then they were packaged and stored in their homes. In the spring when they were in the fields, the grandmas would transport the ornaments down the hills to the train station, where they would travel to seaport cities, and then transported to America on Ships. They were always placed on the top of other cargo as they were so light, and filled the ships to capacity.