German Advent Calendar: Fact of the Day

16. Dezember – The Christmas Pyramid

The German Christmas pyramid (Weihnachtspyramide) comes from the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) region in the German state of Saxony (Sachsen). First created as a low-cost substitute for a real Christmas tree in the late 1700s, these rotating wooden devices typically may have from one to five levels (Etagen). The heat from burning candles turns a windmill-like rotor at the top of a tower (the “pyramid”), making the pyramid’s carousel-like platforms – with carved figures – revolve and also ring its chimes.

A block of East German (DDR) postage stamps depicting various Christmas pyramids. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

Around 1930, a few large Christmas pyramid reproductions were set up outdoors for public display at Christmas markets in the Erzgebirge. By the 1950s there were still only about ten or so of these large-format displays in Germany, but today they are much more common all across Germany as a special feature at Christmas markets from Dresden to Hanover.

MORE > For more about this unique German decoration, see this German Way page: The German Christmas Pyramid (Weihnachtspyramide)

Der Schwibbogen: A similar German decoration from the same region is The German Christmas Candle Arch (Schwibbogen).

Back | Advent Calendar with Christmas Facts

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Christmas from A to Z – German Christmas traditions and terms
• Advent – The Latin word means “arrival.” This custom begins on the first Advent Sunday around December 1.
• Photo Gallery: Christmas in Germany – Berlin – A visual tour of Christmas markets and other December sights in Berlin
• Christmas in the USA and Germany– A comparison chart
• German Christmas Carols – Popular carols with lyrics in German and English
• Barbarazweig – The legend and the Christmas custom
• Epiphany and the Sternsinger – January 6 in the Germanic Christmas tradition
• Erntedank (“harvest thanksgiving”) or Erntedankfest in Germany and Austria is different from the American Thanksgiving tradition.
• St. Nicholas – The many German St. Nicks
• Thomas Nast created the modern Santa image.
• The Christmas Pickle Ornament – Fact or fiction?
• Silent Night (Stille Nacht) – Our “Silent Night” page has the true story and related links.
• Holidays and Celebrations in Austria, Germany and Switzerland
• Glass Ornaments – a history

Legal Notice: We are not responsible for the content of external links.