German Straw Christmas Ornaments -Make or Buy Them!

Families in Germany and Scandinavia have decorated their homes with German Straw Christmas ornaments. The simpler patterns are fairly easy to make, and since most people had some access to straw, they became quite common. But it’s more than that. Straw is closely associated with the symbolism of the Christ Child being born into a manger of straw. The legend of the first straw ornament is related to the Christmas Story.

One of my favorite German School memories was our Christmas pageants. We would stand on a small stage and sing all the familiar German Christmas Songs for our families. Because there wasn’t much money for sets, the back of the stage was covered in German Straw Christmas Ornaments that our mothers made. They came together for a few hours in the weeks leading up to the show and turned straw into gold, well, into stars, which were then sold as a fundraiser (so, maybe gold isn’t that far off).

Straw Ornaments, simple or complex, are a beautiful and inexpensive way to decorate for Christmas. Proof that even the most humble of objects can be fashioned into something special.

German Straw Christmas Ornaments

In our home, we put a few Straw Christmas Ornaments on the tree, but mainly use them to decorate the other greenery around the house. Mom always puts a vase of cut evergreen branches on the fireplace, usually from the branches cut off the bottom of a Christmas Tree. These decorated branches show up before the Christmas tree enters the house. I’ve seen them hung on greenery around doorways and on fireplace mantles. These rustic and lightweight ornaments even make pretty mobiles!

Christmas Tree Decoration – Handmade German Straw Star Ornament – Design 7

Legend of the Straw Stars

As the story goes, Mary laid her son Jesus in a bed of straw in a manger. The Legend of the Straw Stars is a wonderful story to share with children since the straw ornaments are closely tied to the infant Jesus. (I’ve heard various versions—one with a boy, another with a girl—but I will tell it as I told it to my daughters.)

Christmas Garland, Garland of straw snowflakes

Once upon a time…

In the Gospel of Luke, Angels appeared to the Shepherds in the field to tell them of Jesus Christ’s birth. They would find him in Bethlehem, lying in a manger. Together, they headed off to see him. Along the way, they talked about the gifts they would bring. One shepherd had a woolly sheepskin to keep the baby warm; another brought sheep’s milk to nourish him. Only the youngest shepherdess had nothing. The young shepherdess wanted to give a gift to the Baby Jesus, but she had no money to buy anything. She sat on her bedding, staring up at the heavens, and saw the star of Bethlehem. The light shone down on a straw sticking out from her straw mattress. Suddenly, she knew what she should make! Using threads she pulled from her robe, she wove the straw from her bed into a Star of Straw… and gave it as a special gift.

Count down to Christmas with a Straw Star Advent Calendar. Every day you open a decorated envelope to find a new, beautiful straw star!

Der Strohsterne-Adventskalender

Get Started Making Straw Ornaments

These kits are the best deal for getting started on Straw Ornaments. Comes with instructions, straw and tools. These ones can be ordered from the US or Germany…

Glorex GmbH Straw Star Complete Set 3

Strohstern-Komplett-Set 3AMAZON.DE

Make Straw Christmas Ornaments

Making Straw Christmas Ornaments is not too difficult, once you get the hang of it. These books are in German, but they have good step by step photo instructions. The mold/jig is helpful for holding the straw pieces in place, but it isn’t essential. Also, you can buy the craft straw (if you don’t happen to have a field behind our house).

Unfortunately, I can only find books in German…but the instructions are fairly easy to follow.

Strohstern-Nostalgie: Weihnachtsschmuck mit Legeformen leicht gemacht

Strohsterne in bunter Vielfalt Dekorative Strohsterne

TUTORIAL Easy Craft Vintage Handmade Straw Christmas Holiday Ornaments Simple Angels Stars Gifts Wood Pattern instant digital PDF download

See Straw Stars Being Made

This video very slowly and carefully shows how to make straw stars with the frame. This video has German and English Instructions.

Tools to Make Straw Stars- Forms and Cutters

Straw Splitter with 5 choices Hardened steel straw splitter (Limited edition)

Knorr Prandell Straw Splitter with 4 Stripes, Red Knorr Prandell Straw Splitter with 3 Stripes, Red Knorr Prandell Straw Splitter with 6 Stripes, Red

Rayher Craft Kit for Natural Straw Star Ornaments, Set of Three Placement Moulds for Various Star Designs, 8939000

Straw to Make Straw Stars

50 Craft Straws 22 cm Natural folia 962 Craft Straws Made of Straw, Assorted Colours, Length Approx. 22 cm, Pack of 50 for Designing Straw Stars and Figures

folia 961 – Bastelhalme aus Stroh, Strohhalme, Natur, Länge ca. 22 cm, 50 Stück, zum Gestalten von Strohsternen- und figurenAMAZON.DE Knorr prandell Strohhalme 22cm Natur dunkel 50erAMAZON.DE folia 962 – Bastelhalme aus Stroh, Strohhalme, farbig sortiert, Länge ca. 22 cm, 50 Stück, zum Gestalten von Strohsternen- und figurenAMAZON.DE

How to Make Straw Stars without a Frame

You don’t need a frame to make simple stars. This video is in German, but it moves VERY SLOWLY…and isn’t difficult to understand. She uses a needle to split the straw.