Christmas star lanterns, Germany

Twinkle, twinkle, paper stars. Christmas star lanterns, Germany

As Christmas draws near, star lanterns begin to appear everywhere—twinkling from balconies, shining in shop windows, and lighting up market stalls. Their shimmer cuts through the long winter nights, filling streets and homes with joy, color, and a sense of togetherness. But behind these festive decorations lies a story as captivating as their glow.

The first of these stars emerged in Niesky, Germany, in the early 1800s. Students at a Moravian Church boarding school crafted what we now call the Herrnhut Star, or Moravian Star, during a geometry lesson. That 26-pointed marvel, crafted from paper and cardboard, soon came to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem and the spirit of Advent. By 1897, Pieter Verbeek, a former student of that school, began producing and selling them. His son Harry later continued the tradition, founding the Herrnhut Star Factory in 1925.

From that humble beginning, the tradition spread across Europe and the world. Today's Christmas star lanterns, whether handmade or electric, simple or ornate, echo that same idea. Each one reminds us that even a single spark of light has the power to uplift hearts and brighten the season.