For the longest time it was believed that the „Christmas Pickle” tradition originated in Germany, where it’s called „Weihnachtsgurke”. However, it’s possible that it’s only a myth, because „Weihnachtsgurke” is actually not that popular in Germany.
One of the versions of the origin of the „Christmas Pickle” is related with the original Santa – Saint Nicholas. During the 19th and 20th centuries a story was told about how Saint Nicholas saved some children trapped in a barrel of pickles and that’s how pickles became a symbol of Christmas.