Like many German Christmas decorations, the Schwibbogen came from the Erzgebirge. Beginning in the Middle Ages, the “Mettenschicht” was the traditional last work shift before Christmas in the Ore Mountains. In these deep dark mines, a miner’s light kept the darkness at bay, and hanging them together along an arch would light up the cavern. The tradition of Schwibbogen, or…
Category: German Christmas Decorations
Steinbach Company in Germany- Still Making Erzgebirge Magic for the World
“We want to bring the Erzgebirge magic into peoples homes all over the world.” While scrolling through Facebook recently, I came across an interesting comment on the Steinbach Nutcracker fan page… it said that the Steinbach Company in Germany had been purchased, and the factory was up and running again. WHAT! I did some digging, and couldn’t find much……
German Hand Blown Glass Ornaments-Delicate Christmas Gems on Your Tree
My heart broke a little bit last night when I heard the crash… a glass VW Bug ornament slipped from my hand and shattered on the wooden floor. I know, I know, they are only things… but some things have so much more value… both in emotional attachment and dollar signs. Luckily, it wasn’t one of the vintage German Hand-Blown…
German Straw Christmas Ornaments -To Buy or Make
German Straw Christmas ornaments have been used in Germany and Scandinavia for years. They are fairly easy and inexpensive to make, and since most people had some access to straw, they became quite common. But it’s more than that. Straw is closely tied to the symbolism of the Christ Child being born into a bed of straw. The legend of…
German Bride’s Christmas Ornaments- Symbols of Love & Blessings
While hunting for a gift for a recently married friend, I stumbled across the German Brides Christmas Ornaments. I enjoy sharing German Christmas Traditions with all of you, but this was a new one for me. So I did some digging. It turns out, the German Bridal Christmas Ornaments are a newer “old Bavarian tradition”. Maybe it isn’t old, but…
History of German Nutcrackers- Get a Nutcracker for Your Home!
I love how the History of German Nutcrackers is tied up in a Fairy Tale…. Once upon a time, a farmer offered a reward for anyone who could help him easily open the Walnuts from his tree. A Carpenter said he should saw them open. A Soldier told him he should SHOOT the nuts (I can’t imagine what he thought…
Moravian Star aka Herrnhuter Stern- Not a Just Holiday Decoration
A trio of Moravian Stars hangs in my window at Christmastime. These beautiful 26-point Stars, also known in German as a Herrnhuter Stern, have been a popular decoration during the Christmas Season, from the beginning of Advent until the Epiphany, in parts of Germany for almost 200 years. Moravian Stars represent the Star of Bethlehem and are hung in churches…
German Pickle Ornament Story- How did the Green Pickle Ornament Tradition Start?
It’s time to discuss the German Pickle Ornament Story and shatter the myth once and for all. Germans Don’t Hang Pickles in their Christmas Tree. I know, I know… someone told you it’s a REAL GERMAN TRADITION And maybe your Oma hung a pickle on her Christmas Tree… But the truth is, the Christmas Pickle Ornament Tradition is no more…
German Christmas Smokers -Räuchermännchen History & Where to Buy One!
German Christmas Smokers or Räuchermännchen may look like a toy or a simple decoration that goes on the mantle, but they do more; they are incense burners. Many people collect Räuchermännchen, and this Christmas decoration is pretty common in most German households (like Nutcrackers). What’s fun and collectible about these figures is the variety of Smokers. There are Santas, Brewers,…
Christmas Tree Lametta- German Tinsel for the Christmas Tree
We always had Lametta, or Tinsel, for the Christmas Tree, a German Tradition. (Even for their first Christmas in America, my parents had it!) These long strands of silver hang from the tree, looking like shiny icicles. Mom insisted on it. I loved it, even though none of my American friends had a Christmas tree that looked anything like ours.…