A Schwibbogen is an arc-shaped wooden candle holder that originated in the Erzgebirge area of Germany.
Modern versions have electrical candles on them and can often be seen in people’s windows.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
Weihnachtskrippe is the name given to a Nativity scene in Germany, often found in town centres during advent. It depicts the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Many families have their own model Weihnachtskrippe at home. Some of these are self-made, others have been collected over a period of time with a new figure being added each year. Typically, these are also passed down through the generations.
Surprisingly, they were banned in churches at the end of the 18th Century.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
The Weihnachtspyramide is a German Christmas decoration which originally came from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains).
It is usually a round, wooden form with four or more candles. These candles produce the heat that turns the fan-shaped top, which in turn rotates the platforms on which small figures stand.
These figures often depict Christmas scenes, but may also show figures typical to the Erzgebirge such as people from the woods and the mountains.
Their shapes gives them their name – the rotating platforms are wider at the bottom than at the top, ie. a pyramid form. However they only aquired this name at the end of the 18th century, when Napoleon invaded Egypt and the news of the pyramids there reached Germany.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
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