The Real Christmas Traditions Behind PICKLED FOR REVENGE
One of the questions I'm asked most often is: "How much of your books is based on real history?"
For my historical fiction novels, the answer is usually, "Quite a lot."
But even though PICKLED FOR REVENGE is a contemporary Christmas mystery, many of the traditions woven throughout the story are very real. In fact, researching those customs was every bit as enjoyable as researching kings, queens, and empires.
While the mystery itself is fictional (thankfully!), many of the Christmas celebrations, customs, and village traditions you'll encounter have been passed down through generations.
Saint Nicholas and Servant Rupert
Long before Santa Claus arrived on Christmas Eve, many parts of Europe celebrated Saint Nicholas Day on December 6.
Saint Nicholas, based on the fourth-century bishop known for his generosity, traditionally visited children to reward good behavior with small gifts, fruit, nuts, and sweets.
But he rarely traveled alone.
Depending on the region, he was accompanied by a helper whose job was considerably less cheerful. In southern Germany, Austria, and neighboring regions, that companion often went by the name Servant Rupert (Knecht Ruprecht). While Saint Nicholas rewarded well-behaved children, Rupert reminded the mischievous ones that perhaps they should make better choices next year.
Fortunately, in PICKLED FOR REVENGE, Rupert has enough trouble solving a murder alongside Nicko without having time to discipline naughty children as well.
Advent Is More Than a Countdown
For many families, Advent isn't simply the four weeks leading up to Christmas. It's a season filled with anticipation and tradition.
Homes are decorated, candles are lit each Sunday, Christmas markets open, and villages come alive with music, lights, and community events. Rather than treating Christmas as a single day, Advent allows the excitement to build little by little.
That growing sense of anticipation became an important backdrop for my novel. When something threatens the village's cherished traditions, it's about much more than decorations. It's an attack on something that brings the entire community together.
The Christmas Pickle Ornament
Perhaps the most unusual tradition in the novel is the Christmas pickle.
According to the popular version of the tradition, a pickle-shaped ornament is hidden deep within the branches of the Christmas tree after it has been decorated. On Christmas, the first child to find it receives an extra present or a year of good fortune.
The Christmas pickle is considered a German-American tradition. While popularly attributed to Germany, the tradition is widely considered an American invention from the late 19th century, likely created by retailers to market imported German glass baubles. But regardless of its origins, the Christmas pickle has become one of those delightfully quirky holiday customs that refuses to disappear.
When I first learned about it, my novelist's brain immediately started asking questions.
How do you determine who gets to hide the pickle? What if someone moved it? What if there were two?
That last question eventually became the seed from which PICKLED FOR REVENGE grew.
Village Christmas Celebrations
One thing I particularly wanted to capture was the feeling of a close-knit village during the Christmas season.
In many European communities, Christmas is still very much a communal celebration. People decorate together, organize concerts and nativity plays, attend church services, bake traditional cookies, and volunteer countless hours to make the holidays special for everyone.
That sense of community also creates the perfect setting for a mystery.
Everyone knows everyone. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone notices when something is out of place. And everyone seems to have a secret.
Christmas Food Is Serious Business
No Christmas celebration would be complete without food.
Depending on the region and family traditions, holiday tables may include roast goose, fish, dumplings, red cabbage, potato dishes, Stollen, gingerbread, cookies of every imaginable variety, mulled wine (Glühwein), eggnog, and countless other seasonal treats.
Food isn't just something people eat during the holidays—it brings families and neighbors together. Meals become traditions in themselves, passed from one generation to the next.
Naturally, Nicko and Rupert spend a fair amount of time eating their way through the investigation. I have a feeling many readers will understand their priorities.
Research Never Really Ends
Even though PICKLED FOR REVENGE marks a departure from my historical fiction, one thing hasn't changed: I still love research.
Whether I'm writing about Empress Elisabeth of Austria, Tudor England, or a fictional German village preparing for Christmas, I want readers to feel as though they've stepped into a real place inhabited by real people with authentic traditions. That authenticity makes the humor funnier, the mystery more believable, and the setting come alive.
Final Thoughts
One of the greatest joys of writing this book was bringing together beloved Christmas traditions with an eccentric cast of characters and an unusual murder mystery. Some of the customs you'll recognize immediately. Others may surprise you. A few might even inspire you to start a new family tradition of your own.
Just one piece of advice...
If you happen to find two Christmas pickle ornaments hanging on the same tree, you may want to ask a few questions. After all, in Nicko's village, that's when the trouble begins.
PICKLED FOR REVENGE releases on September 15, 2026, and I can't wait to introduce you to Nicko, his friend, Rupert, and the wonderfully eccentric villagers who prove that even the most cheerful Christmas traditions can hide a deadly secret.
Piper is the award-winning author of The Country Girl Empress series. When she isn't busy typing on her computer, she can be found chasing after her furry children or holding on tightly to a good cup of coffee. Follow her on LinkedIn, Facebook, Medium, and Goodreads
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