Hello John: A very happy new year to you and list members. 2004 was a mixed year for me, I lost my Mother at the age of 90 just before Christmas and have been through the holidays without her for the first time in nearly 66 years (I turned 66 yesterday and our tree does not come down until after my birthday). However, I am blessed in having a new grandson born prematurely on Nov. 26/04 weighing 2 lb. 6 oz. and now up to a hefty 3 lb. 8 oz. I can't wait until he gets old enough to learn about his Hessian ancestor, Johann Friedrich Luecke, and have started what I understand is a German custom by hanging a glass pickle in the form of a green cucumber on my tree (I have done this for several years now since learning about Johann Friedrich). One needs to have a gift for the person who finds it on the tree, but this year it remained undiscovered. I am now eating the chocolates from the box that would have gone to the prize winner. So much for keeping resolutions about losing weight and so on. All best wishes to you and the family. Alice Garner in NB, Canada

Hi Alice, Happy New Year to everyone! What a wonderful custom... Is it permissible to tell us the history of this custom and where it came from (area of Germany) on the list? You have my heart felt condolances for your loss.. And wonderful blessings for the new little one! I would love to find out that my Hessians Paulus and Johann Jacob Bonstein (brothers) had a custom like this.. I wonder if the Tree at Trenton in 1776 had a glass pickle on it??!! Anyone know if there was a Schnable Hessian? My Jacob stayed here in PA and married a Schnable... Nelda Nelda L. Percival nee Gilpin, IBSSG Beatty #005 & #10; Graves #231 & #105 http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~bonsteinandgilpin/ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~gillock/ http://www.doodleartgraphics.com/

Hello Alice, I was really happy to hear from you and I thank you for the good wishes. I can only confirm your statement that 2004 was a year of mixed blessings, we all lost loved-ones, relatives, and very good friends, and there is nothing we can do about it. Congratulations to your birthday, my goodness, my younger sister is 13 years ahead of you, so you got lots ahead of you, everyday a new adventure ... got to keep a positive outlook :--) Did you ever hear anymore about your Johann Friedrich LUECKE (John Frederic LUKE), the Brunswick soldier who settled in Renfrew County, Upper Canada (Ontario)? Best wishes, John Helmut Merz (will visit Ameliasburg, Ontario, on 15. Jan.2005) ----- Original Message ----- From: "Alice Garner" <garnera@nbnet.nb.ca> Sent: Monday, January 03, 2005 4:34 PM Subject: [HESSIAN] Happy New Year > Hello John: > A very happy new year to you and list members. 2004 was a mixed year > for me, I lost my Mother at the age of 90 just before Christmas and > have been through the holidays without her for the first time in > nearly 66 years (I turned 66 yesterday and our tree does not come > down until after my birthday). However, I am blessed in having a new > grandson born prematurely on Nov. 26/04 weighing 2 lb. 6 oz. and now > up to a hefty 3 lb. 8 oz. I can't wait until he gets old enough to > learn about his Hessian ancestor, Johann Friedrich Luecke, <SNIP>