What Is The German Christmas Thing With Candles?
In the weeks leading up to Christmas, candles play an important role in German holiday traditions. The candlelight serves as a symbol of hope and light during the dark winter days. Germans use candles to decorate Christmas trees, wreaths, pyramids, and more. The candles represent the Christmas light and Jesus Christ as the light of the world. The flames also conjure feelings of coziness and warmth during the cold season. The German candle customs date back centuries and continue to be an integral part of the Christmas celebrations in modern times. Though the traditions vary by region, candles remain an essential part of German Christmas magic and meaning.
History and Origins
The tradition of candles and light during the Christmas season in Germany dates back centuries to pre-Christian pagan winter solstice celebrations. Ancient Germanic peoples lit fires and candles to symbolize the struggle between light and darkness as the days grew shorter in winter.
When Germany began to Christianize starting in the 8th century, some of these light traditions were adopted into the new Christmas holiday celebrations. The Advent wreath with its candles originated as early as the 16th century among Lutherans in eastern Germany as a countdown to Christmas.
In the 18th century, pyramid-shaped Christmas candleholders called “Christbaum” or “Weihnachtspyramide” emerged in the Erzgebirge mountain region of Saxony. Inspired by candle-powered carousels, these pyramids featured figures from the Christmas story revolving around the candles.
Over time, the tradition of the Tannenbaum (Christmas tree) was also influenced by candlelight and spread as a mainstay of German Christmas celebrations by the 19th century. While the origins of various candle traditions differ, they all symbolize hope, light and Christmas joy triumphing over winter’s darkness.
Religious Significance
Light and candles have long held religious and spiritual significance in Christianity, especially during Advent and Christmas. The Advent wreath’s candles mark the four Sundays leading up to Christmas, representing the light of Christ coming into the world. The evergreen wreath itself symbolizes eternal life promised through Christ. On Christmas Eve, many Christians attend candlelight church services that end with the lighting of candles to welcome the birth of Jesus, whom the Bible calls “the light of the world” (John 8:12). The Christmas pyramid’s lights point upwards towards heaven, reminding us that Jesus came down from heaven.
Candles and Christmas lights also represent Jesus Christ as the light overcoming the darkness of sin, as stated in John 1:5 – “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” Decorating Christmas trees and houses with lights resembles decorating a home to welcome an honored guest, celebrating Jesus’ birth. The star or angel that crowns the Christmas tree represents the Star of Bethlehem that led the wise men to baby Jesus. The lights represent Jesus being revealed as the Savior and God’s light coming into a spiritually darkened world.
The Advent Wreath
The Advent wreath is one of the most popular Christmas traditions in Germany. It consists of a wreath made of evergreen branches with four candles – typically three purple or blue candles and one pink candle. The wreath and candles hold deep symbolism related to the meaning of Advent in Christianity.
The circular shape of the wreath represents eternity and the everlasting nature of God’s love. The evergreen leaves symbolize enduring hope and life that persists even through the dark, cold winter. The four Advent candles mark each of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas Eve. One new candle is lit each Sunday, gradually increasing the light and anticipation as Christmas approaches.
The three purple or blue candles traditionally represent hope, love, and peace. These virtues are associated with the coming of Christ. The pink candle is lit on the third Sunday and represents joy. On Christmas Eve, a white candle is placed in the center of the wreath to represent the light of Christ coming into the world. Lighting the candles each Sunday signifies the understanding that the full light and promise of Christmas will soon illuminate the world.
The Advent wreath serves to build eager expectation during the four weeks before Christmas. The increasing light echoes the hope that the birth of Jesus brings salvation steadily nearer. Lighting the wreath is often accompanied by prayer, scripture reading, and Christmas hymns. For many German families, the Advent wreath is central to their Christmas preparations and celebrations.
The Christmas Pyramid
The Christmas pyramid is a traditional German decoration that serves both decorative and functional purposes during the Christmas season. Pyramids became popular Christmas symbols in the 1800s, especially in the Erzgebirge mountain region between Saxony and Bohemia.
The Christmas pyramid represents the journey of the Three Wise Men to visit the baby Jesus. The design is inspired by motif pyramids from the Renaissance, which depicted the hierarchy of angels. Traditional pyramids feature a wooden base and frame, with four sides and rotating propellers at the top. The propellers are turned by the heat of candles or electric lights, making the pyramid rotate.
Christmas pyramids come in varying sizes, from just a few inches tall to over 15 feet tall in public displays. Miniatures are popular collectibles and ornaments. The decorations adorning the pyramid vary by region, but often include nativity figures, wise men, angels, animals, evergreen branches, stars, and panoramic scenes. The rotating pyramid provides eye-catching motion and flickering light during the dark winter nights.
Major centers of Christmas pyramid production include the Ore Mountains, the Thuringian Forest region, and the Erzgebirge region. Variations in design and decorations reflect local traditions. Some pyramids focus on nature motifs, mining imagery in the Ore Mountains, or medieval scenes. Creative pyramids depict snow-covered landscapes, skiing motifs, and even Santa Claus and reindeer.
The Tannenbaum
The Tannenbaum, or Christmas tree, is one of the most iconic symbols of Christmas in Germany. The tradition of decorating an evergreen tree can be traced back to the 16th century in Germany, when devout Christians brought adorned trees into their homes as a symbol of everlasting life in Christ.
The first records of decorated Christmas trees appeared in German guild halls in the early 1500s. The trees were often decorated with apples, representing the Garden of Eden, and candles or paper flowers. Over time, glass baubles and candy canes were added as Christmas tree decorations.
The Christmas tree tradition gained popularity in Germany after the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century. Martin Luther, the leader of the Reformation, is said to have first added lighted candles to an evergreen tree to remind his children of the starry sky from which Jesus came. This inspired other German Christians to begin setting up candle-lit Christmas trees in their homes each year.
By the 1700s, the Christmas tree custom had spread to many German Lutheran homes. The trees were seen as a symbol of Christian faith and a way to visibly celebrate the birth of Jesus. The tradition continued spreading across Germany and to other parts of Europe throughout the 18th and 19th centuries.
Today, a beautifully decorated Tannenbaum remains an essential part of German Christmas tradition. Families gather on Christmas Eve to light the candles or electric lights on the tree, sing carols, and exchange gifts beneath its branches.
St. Martin’s Day
St. Martin’s Day is celebrated on November 11th each year in Germany and honors St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of beggars and the poor. St. Martin was known for his kindness and generosity, with the most famous legend being when he cut his cloak in half to share with a beggar during a snowstorm.
On St. Martin’s Day, children walk in processions with paper lanterns and sing songs about St. Martin and being kind to others. This lantern festival marks the start of the Christmas season and Advent in Germany. The glow of the lanterns is meant to symbolize the light spreading goodness into the winter darkness.
After the processions, families gather for a special St. Martin’s Day goose dinner. The goose is connected to the famous legend and meant to represent St. Martin’s generosity. Celebrating with lantern processions and a special meal keeps alive the annual tradition honoring his legacy of compassion and charity, which embody important Christmas values.
Modern Traditions
The tradition of lighting candles during the Christmas season continues to be an important part of German holiday celebrations today. While practices vary by region, the lighting of the Advent wreath and Christmas pyramid remain the most widespread customs.
Many German families continue to light Advent wreaths in their homes during the four Sundays leading up to Christmas. The circular wreath holds four candles, often arranged around a fifth, white central candle. Each Sunday, an additional candle is lit to mark the approach of Christmas.
Christmas markets across Germany shine with the light of Christmas pyramids, some small enough for a tabletop, others towering as high as two stories. These wooden spires are decorated with nativity figurines and rotate slowly from the heat of small candles. Christmas pyramids are also common decorations in German homes.
Another modern tradition is the German Tannenbaum, or Christmas tree. While Christmas trees originated in Germany much earlier, they have evolved to become a central part of the modern German Christmas. Trees are typically decorated with candles, lights, tinsel, glass ornaments, candy, and other adornments.
While practices vary by region, the common theme is using candlelight to create a warm, cozy, and spiritual atmosphere during the darkest time of year.
Regional Variations
While Christmas trees, advent wreaths and various candle-centric traditions are common throughout Germany during the holiday season, there are some interesting regional differences and local customs to note.
In the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) region of eastern Germany, people handcraft elaborate pyramid-shaped wooden candle holders called Christmas pyramids. These multi-tiered wooden pyramids often feature nativity scenes and spinning propellers at the top. The spinning motion circulates heat from the candles to radiate warmth in mountain homes.
In Bavaria and other southern German states, glass makers craft beautiful glass ornaments by hand to adorn Christmas trees and window displays. The famous town of Lauscha helped pioneer this glass-making craft and their glass ornaments are prized exports.
The historic Franconia region is known for its Christmas markets where villagers sell regional handicrafts, decorations, toys and holiday treats. Franconia Christmas markets inspired many modern German Christmas markets.
Along the Rhine river, St. Martin’s Day on November 11th serves as the traditional start of Christmas preparations. The feast day involves lantern processions and singing carols as an early buildup towards Christmas.
Summary and Significance
Whether displayed in the cozy Advent wreath, majestic Christmas pyramid, or traditional Christmas tree, candlelight is an integral part of German holiday celebrations. It represents peace, hope and the anticipation of Christ’s birth. The annual tradition of decorating with candles in the darkest days before Christmas brings families together and fills homes with warmth and light. For Germans, it recalls childhood memories and the joys of Christmas past. Though now known around the world, the origins and significance of these candlelit customs remain deeply rooted in German culture and Christian faith.
The glow of candles during the holiday season holds centuries of meaning for German people. Their light has become symbolic, connecting the present to generations before. Even in today’s modern age, the simple tradition of holiday candles continues to shine.
