After St. Nick puts the present under the Christmas tree and before he sits at the plate left for him, he brings a pickle from a pocket that never goes empty of them and sets it on the floor. When the last cookie is washed down with warm cider he reaches down and taps the pickle three times.
Suddenly, big round eyes appear and it springs upright. The pickle is now a weihnachtsgurken, or pickle person. The pickle person takes in the family's Christmas preparation for several minutes then a big smile grows on the pickle and it looks up at St. Nick.
"Jolly St. Nick," the pickle says bowing. "How may I serve this Christmas?"
"Weihnachtsgurken," St. Nick says brushing cookie crumbs from his suit. "You see this family loves Christmas. Their home is full of holiday spir-"
"Christmas means much here, St. Nick," the eager pickle interrupts. "How can a pickle person add more?"
"Go into their Christmas tree," St. Nick says pointing at the tree. "Behind the lights. Beyond the ornaments. Away from the tinsel and flock. Settle near the trunk--"
"Simple task for a pickle person, St. Nick," the pickle says then bounds towards the tree.
"Weihnachtsgurken!" St Nick says stopping the pickle person, then he reaches inside his sack and pulls a last gift and holds it up. "I'm setting this gift aside with a note telling the family that when all the children have opened their presents under the tree they must search-"
"Search the tree for me and the child that finds me gets the present," the pickle person says.
"No," St. Nick says. "Pickle person you are filled with my magic and wisdom. Use it! Reveal yourself only to the most deserving child."
If no children bless a home, St. Nick fills the pickle person with a year of luck for the deserving adult that finds it.
Over generations, the children and adults stopped looking for thewihnachtsgurken. St. Nick's pickle people lost their place in the Christmas tree. They found other work.
Pickle Peoples' fortunes changed when they were rediscovered and befriended by David Cherry, someone who crafts Christmas tree ornaments. Each year he searches cities, suburbs and the countryside finding pickle people at work on farms, in the forests, on factory floors and even office cubicles. David puts the pickle people back to work making Christmas just a little more special for a deserving child and bringing a year of St. Nick's luck to hardworking moms and dads.