The WoW Style

German Christmas culture is steeped in hundreds of years of tradition and the ways in which people decorate their homes plays a really large role in capturing that incredible special holiday spirit. 

Whether you live in Germany, or anywhere else in the world, chances are good that your own sense of Christmas décor has been influenced and inspired by the German approach to the Holiday.

So, whether you are looking to buy some German Christmas decorations, or simply want to have your home look more traditional for the holidays, here are some wonderful ornaments to consider. 

Nutcrackers

Of course, everyone has heard of the Nutcracker ballet, but did you know that the very history of the nutcracker ornament owes its beginning to Germany? In fact, based on the facts from the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, the famous wooden soldier design originated in Germany in the 1800s. It was in 1872 that Wilhelm Fuchtner, who is considered to be the father of the nutcracker, first sold the commercially produced piece. 

Rauchermen

Another highly popular German decoration for the holidays is the Raucherman – or German Smokers. They are made in a very similar style to the iconic nutcracker, but they have a different purpose. Instead of cracking nuts, the Raucherman is used as an adorable incense burner. 

The history of the ornament is pretty fantastic. Apparently, hundreds of years ago people believed that the darkest days of the year brought evil spirits that could only be fended off by light and sound. After the spirits departed, the Rauchermen would be used to cleanse the home during a blessing.

Christmas Pyramids

Another iconic German Christmas decoration is the Christmas Pyramid, which is made up – typically – of two or more stories. They are traditionally made of wood and come with little holiday themed figurines. Often, the Christmas Pyramid will serve as a beautiful display for the story of Christmas itself. On top of that, candles that are lit at the base lead to a windmill at the top to spin, which in turn spins the very floors of every level of the Pyramid. It is a fun and engaging decoration that can service as a truly festive centerpiece to your Christmas Eve feast. 

Though they date back as far to the 15th century, they were believed to be most popular in the 18th and 19th century. They did not begin to be sold commercially until the 20th century and while they are quite rare – and also quite expensive – they are truly unique and will be a guaranteed conversation starter for every holiday party you choose from now on. 

German Tree Ornaments

While the other options on this list are quite ornate, traditional tree ornaments are actually quite simple. They are often made up of wooden ornaments of stars or carved scenes of the Christmas story, or are sometimes more delicate and made of hand-blown glass. Whatever way you end up going, you can be sure that your tree will look truly beautiful on Christmas Eve.