Christmas Baby’s in Cabbages

When we think about the arrival of a newborn, the story that often comes to mind is the classic one: babies are delivered by storks. But did you know that in France, babies are said to come from cabbages? Specifically, a green Savoy cabbage! This charming tale, which became popular around 1900, crossed the Atlantic and even made its way into American culture in the form of the well-known Cabbage Patch Kids.

But where does this cabbage tradition come from? Although its exact origins are unclear, some suggest it might have to do with the cabbage’s shape. The way its outer leaves wrap protectively around the inner heart of tender, young leaves could symbolize nurturing and growth. Imagine a cabbage field filled with tiny babies nestled among the leaves—a heartwarming, whimsical image that became popular on French postcards over a century ago.

In the early 1900s, as postcards and photography rose in popularity, people began sending cards for every occasion. Among the romantic and festive wishes, some postcards featured cabbages filled with babies as a playful way to announce a new birth. These images often depicted a gardener tending to the cabbages, as if he were helping the babies “grow” until they were ready to join their new families. Perhaps this is even the origin of the Dutch expression "groeien als kool" (growing like a cabbage) to describe children who grow up quickly!

So, what does all of this have to do with Christmas? Not much, really—except that both stories share a sense of wonder, warmth, and a touch of magic. Like the Christmas story that we tell each year, the tale of cabbage babies has a timeless charm that invites us to imagine a world where miracles can spring up from the most unexpected places, even a cabbage patch.

Imagine combining these two stories in a delightful Christmas ornament: a tiny cabbage with a baby inside, hung on your Christmas tree as a symbol of new beginnings and the magic of the season. After all, the holidays are the perfect time to celebrate love, family, and cherished traditions, both old and new.