Once you start singing: “It’s the most wonderful time of the year”! (in Andy William’s style, of course), you know it’s time to start decorating for Christmas. We Aussies aren’t as lucky as those living in the Northern Hemisphere to celebrate one of the most important days for both religious and non-religious people in a beautiful snowy ambience.
However, we can still recreate the magic of this holiday by celebrating it in a manner of those who do it best, holding the benchmark for creating whimsical and truly special memories at the most festive time of the year–the Europeans. Or Germans, to be more exact.
How Do Germans Decorate for Christmas?
The very first Christmas market in Europe, known as Striezelmarkt, took place in Germany, in the city of Dresden in 1434. Today, almost 600 years later, Christmas markets still create a magical atmosphere, a delight to the senses both in larger cities and smaller towns and places in Germany.
The smell of slowly warming mulled wine, baked gingerbread cookies, slowly roasting chestnuts, various German foods and the sound of Christmas carols are only a part of this whimsical experience. The traditional decor is what completes the breathtaking scenescaping.
Christmas decorations, such as Christmas pyramids, smoking men, and nutcrackers, among many other things originating in Germany hundreds of years ago, are a big part of the German Christmas spirit. Many of these ornaments are still made today using the same techniques passed down through the generations. If you want to celebrate the next Christmas in German style, adorning your home with genuine handcrafted Christmas house decorations is essential.
1.Tree Ornaments
Bringing a tree inside the home and decorating it for Christmas is a tradition we’ve held for many years. However, few people know that the first Christmas tree (at least the first ever recorded) originated in Germany in 1605. Some families still light the tree, or the Tannenbaum, with candles for a traditional German tradition. If your tree has strong enough branches, consider placing candle holders and genuine candles in red and white–Baumkerzen, instead of putting modern Christmas lights on it.
Wooden and felt figurine hanging decorations in assorted styles are other options. Think stars, baubles, cucumber (yes, you read it right), elves, and angels with dangly legs, apart from the classic Santa Clauses and Nutcrackers.
2.German Incense Smokers (Räuchermännchen)
The Toy Makers in the Ore Mountains invented these Christmas house decorations. They burn down incense called Raucherkerzchen and are referred to as Rauchermann. There are many distinct types of smokers, frequently symbolising various local craftsmen, including hunters, miners, peddlers, soldiers, and foresters.
These distinctive incense burners lend personality and appeal to a long-standing custom. Typically, a tiny incense cone is positioned in the bottom half of each figurine, which may be separated at the waist. The upper hollowed-out portion is then repositioned over the lit cone after it has been lit. It gradually burns down, creating vapour, often escaping through the smoker’s mouth.
Around Christmas, the Rauchermanner (smoking men) are frequently taken out and put on display alongside the Weihnachtspyramide (Christmas pyramids), Schwibbogen (candle arches), and nutcrackers. Their vibrant personalities and the aroma of burning incense, present in many classic fragrances like pine, marzipan, cinnamon, honey, vanilla, and so on, give them an enchanted charm.
3.German Arches (Schwibbogen)
The Schwibbogen, or Christmas arch, has its roots in the mining traditions of Germany’s Ore Mountains. These decorative arches were first crafted to illuminate the Christmas shifts of miners and foremen during festive gatherings known as Mettenschicht. Featuring candlelight and motifs tied to miners’ lives, such as tools, trees, and everyday scenes, these arches became a symbol of hope and celebration.
By the 18th and 19th centuries, Schwibbogen designs expanded to showcase the region’s industries. Figurines of miners, woodcarvers, and Christmas trees were common elements. The candles were more than decorative; they symbolised the miners’ longing for daylight during dark winters and their reliance on safety lamps underground.
The first recorded Schwibbogen, crafted in 1740, was made from black ore. Over time, wood replaced metal, allowing for more intricate designs. Modern Schwibbogens often feature LED lights and depict charming village scenes blanketed in snow. These timeless decorations continue to grace windowsills and mantels, bringing warmth and tradition to holiday homes.
4.German Pyramids (Weihnachtspyramide)
Weihnachtspyramiden, or Christmas pyramids, are treasured German holiday decorations with roots in the Ore Mountains. Sometimes called nativity carousels or Christmas windmills, these wooden structures are thought to predate the Christmas tree. Originating from medieval traditions where evergreen branches and candles symbolised hope, these pyramids evolved into a central element of German Christmas celebrations.
Historically, the St. John’s tree, a pyramid adorned with garlands and flowers for summer solstice celebrations, inspired the Weihnachtspyramide. These pyramids typically feature a multi-tiered wooden frame with candles at the base. The heat from the candles turns a rotor, causing the central carousel to spin. Each level often displays intricate nativity figures, angels, miners, or forest scenes, reflecting life in the Ore Mountains.
Modern variations include musical components or LED lights, while traditional versions remain candle-powered. Whether placed on a mantel, windowsill or as a dining table centrepiece, Weihnachtspyramid brings charm and movement to festive decor.
5.Nutcrackers
Nutcrackers are iconic symbols of German Christmas, celebrated for their craftsmanship and folkloric charm. Originally designed to crack nuts, these wooden figures often resemble soldiers, kings, or knights. According to legend, a puppet maker first crafted a nutcracker with a levered mouth for a competition, creating a practical yet whimsical tool.
Although most nutcrackers today are decorative, functional designs were once staples in German homes, using clever leverage to break tough shells. Decorative nutcrackers gained popularity in the late 19th century, especially in the Alps, where they became associated with filling children’s stockings with nuts.
Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker, based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, further popularised these figures. Hand-carved nutcrackers from the Ore Mountains remain prized collectibles, blending artistry and nostalgia.