Not the Erzgebirge: Thuringia's Cradles of Christmas Art - Thuringia’s centuries-old Christmas crafts defy time with handmade artistry
Thuringia’s Christmas craft traditions stretch back centuries, far older than those in the Ore Mountains. The region remains a hub for handmade decorations, from glass ornaments to intricate nativity scenes. One workshop in Steinach still keeps a rare art form alive—papier-mâché figures—while other towns preserve their own unique heritage.
The roots of Thuringia’s Christmas craftsmanship run deep, particularly in the Eichsfeld region and the Rhön. For generations, families here have built nativity scenes, a tradition that continues today. Glassblowers, once too poor for standard Christmas decorations, turned their skills into an art form, creating delicate glass ornaments that became a regional hallmark.
Thuringia’s Christmas crafts remain a living tradition, from glassblowing to papier-mâché and woodcarving. Workshops like Marolin and schools in Empfertshausen keep these skills alive, passing them to new generations. The region’s history—of nutcrackers, nativity scenes, and global toy trade—continues to shape its identity today.
