German Christmas Decorations (Weihnachtsschmuck)
German
Christmas decorations are rather special. In Rothenburg ob the Tauber,
there is a Christmas Village that is open all year round. Here
shoppers can purchase nutcrakers and angels, which originated in the Erzgebirge
of Saxony. 
There
are also the beautiful pyramids, which also come from the Erzgebirge 
Then there are music boxes and many
different types of table accessories, including beautiful hand stitched
tablecloths with various motives as well as beautifully carved cribs.
This shop is very popular with people from all over the world.
Die
Weihnachtskrippe (the Christmas Crib or Nativity scene)
The Nativity scene was initially put up in 1223 by
Francis of Assisi in a cave near Greccio. His intention was to show
the inhabitants of the area, that Christ was born in poor circumstances and so
he placed the wooden carving of the baby Jesus lying in a manger (Krippe).
This
custom spread and in time animals and more and more people were added to create
a nativity scene. The most popular nativity scenes are those carved
out wood, although there are some made out of plaster of Paris and other
material. This nativity scene is put up during Advent. 
Weihnachtsfenster (Christmas windows)
This is another form of decoration in Germany.
Often the windows are decorated with stars - made out of paper, silver foil, or
transparent coloured paper similar to greaseproof paper. Another
form of decoration can be the stained glass look where stars are cut out of
black paper lined with cellophane, tissue or other transparent paper.
Other motifs, such as a nativity scene, are cut out of black paper and
this lined with some coloured transparent paper.
This is a nativity scene that can be put against window
and is available from Educational Essentials PO Box 273 Mont Albert
3127 Tel: (03) 9836 9123 Fax: (03) 9888 6669 Email: kw@net2000.com.au Christmas
Crafts
In Germany, it is cold and gets dark early in
December. As a result, Germans have a lot of time to devote to
Christmas crafts. Children really enjoy being involved in
crafts and while they are busy with these crafts, it is an ideal time for them
to listen to the many beautiful German Christmas carols.
The black line master and
instructions in
German for this fold out star can be obtained by clicking on the highligted
words, above.
Here are examples of other craft activities that
are included in book "Craft for Special Occasions" by Resi
Schwarzbauer available from Macmillan Education Australia Pty. Ltd., 627 Chapel
Street, South Yarra, 3141. www. macmillan.com.au. Tel. 9825 1000.
This is coloured in and
then if desired some sections can be cut out.
Can be coloured in or
certain section can be cut out and lined with transparent paper
Stars for the window or as decorations which require
folding and cutting - also included in "Craft for special occasions".
This star is coloured
in and then folded and cut so that certain sections can be
folded out. 
This
star is coloured in and then cut so that the long thin strips
can be woven into the star. 
Three Angels 
Stand up Father Christmas - the sack is actually a
little box that can be used for sweets or small gifts.
A small gift box with a star motive.More
examples of stars are included in the author’s craft book, “Craft for
special occasions”, available from Macmillan Publishers Australia Pty. Ltd.
Level 4/627 Chapel Street, South Yarra, 3141.
www.macmillan.com.au. 
.
Back
to German Festivals and Celebrations