The Fortunate Fungus Steals the Spotlight

For those who've been steadfast patrons of Gift All Season for years, our top-selling pickle ornament is likely no stranger. Our clientele adored the pickle, and it comes with an age-old tradition linked to the pickle Christmas ornament. It is concealed somewhere on the tree, camouflaging gracefully with its hue and form, and the one who discovers the pickle receives an extra Christmas surprise. We offer several pickle selections: the pickle ornament, the shimmering pickle ornament, the sweet pickle, the mini gurken, a jar of pickles, and pickle chips. Although the pickle will persist in being a top-seller steeped in tradition, we've observed a budding trend in novel Christmas decorations: the fortunate mushroom.  

Originally popularized in Super Mario Bros. featuring Mario and Luigi, the fortunate mushroom granted an extra life accompanied by a gratifying “ding.” Nevertheless, the concept of the fortunate mushroom existed long before the video game. Glücklicher Pilz or Glückspilz in German translates to “lucky mushroom,” referring to the iconic red and white spotted mushroom. Despite their cute appearance, the Amanita muscaria fungus is toxic and highly dangerous. While experienced individuals can prepare and use them as a hallucinogen, it is perilous and can cause severe illness if mishandled. It's not something to dabble in lightly. 

These mushrooms thrive deep in forests at the base of fir trees. Similar to the shamrock, rabbit's foot, and other lucky charms, the fortunate mushroom holds a lucky tradition rooted in Germanic and Swiss heritage. This lucky mushroom elegantly merges folklore with Christmas festivities. Not only do these mushrooms grow at the base of Christmas trees in the wild, but they also are a favorite snack for reindeers. There's folklore suggesting that reindeers consuming these hallucinogenic mushrooms give them the power to fly and transport Santa's sleigh. Both Santa and the mushroom share the same color patterns. 

The Germans, adeptly utilizing local resources, would adorn their Christmas trees with dried mushrooms. Although this practice is not advisable today considering their toxicity. Instead, we suggest our version of the fortunate mushroom. It's so charming that perhaps several should grace your tree. 

We believe every tree deserves a fortunate mushroom, a lucky pickle, and a shamrock. But we also adore pairing the mushroom ornament with our woodland ornaments. The vintage cottontail bunny and vintage wise old owl complement the fortunate mushroom perfectly, creating a woodland aesthetic. We appreciate the fresh twist the fortunate mushroom brings to Christmas decoration. It offers a subtler look compared to the often-overdone traditional red and green of Christmas. A winter forest theme crafts a more polished winter ambiance.

Gift All Season loves enchanting Christmas customs like the pickle and fortunate mushroom. Whether they hang on your tree for good fortune or simply because you're fond of the tangy, sour appeal of a pickle and Super Mario Bros., we believe you can't go wrong with the delightful red and white fortunate mushroom ornament.