Herrnhuter Moravian Star Lanterns – A German Christmas Tradition

A Star That Followed Me Home
Long before I started Gingerbread World, I kept noticing a certain star. It hung in windows and doorways as I travelled through Germany, glowing with a soft, welcoming light. These weren’t just flat ornaments or twinkly fairy lights—this was something three-dimensional, almost sculptural. Each star seemed alive, casting a glow that was somehow both festive and calming. Only later did I learn that these were the famous Herrnhuter Stars—also called Moravian Star Lanterns or German Christmas Stars—and I didn’t know it then, but I was already falling in love with them.From Wondering to Bringing Them to Canada
I started spotting these stars at Christmas markets, on quiet village streets, and later at the big European trade shows I attended for Gingerbread World. For years, I admired them from afar, not sure when or how they might fit into our collection. They weren’t just Christmas decorations; they carried with them a long history and a story rooted in faith and tradition. It took time, but eventually the Herrnhuter Stars became part of our offerings—and now, they’re one of the products that bring me the most joy to share with our customers here in Canada.

The Moravian Community in Herrnhut
To understand the star, you first need to understand the people who created it. In 1722, Count Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf welcomed a small group of Protestant refugees fleeing persecution in Moravia, a region of today’s Czech Republic. They settled in Saxony, Germany, in a village they called Herrnhut—“under the Lord’s protection.” This little settlement quickly became the centre of a renewed Moravian Church. From the start, the community was known for its devotion to faith, education, and mission work, sending members far across the world to share both the Gospel and practical knowledge that encouraged self-sufficiency and dignity among the people they served.

A Worldwide Fellowship
The Moravian movement grew beyond what anyone in that small Saxon town could have imagined. By the mid-18th century, the Herrnhut congregation was supporting missions on several continents, and by the early 19th century, the “Herrnhuter Brüdergemeine”—known elsewhere as the Moravian Church—had become a worldwide denomination. Today, there are over a million members worldwide, and Herrnhut remains both a physical and spiritual home for this enduring community. That legacy of global connection and resilient faith forms the backdrop for the Herrnhuter Moravian Star tradition.

The Origins of the Herrnhuter Star
The first Moravian Stars appeared in the 1800s, crafted by children in Moravian boarding schools. Many of these students had been sent home from distant mission fields to study, and being away from their families at Christmastime was especially difficult. A teacher, using geometry lessons to pass the time, showed the children how to fold and construct stars from paper. Soon, these bright red and white creations—red for the blood of Christ, white for purity—were lighting up classrooms during Advent. Over time, the tradition spread, with families making stars to bring joy and warmth to the season. Today, the Herrnhuter Christmas Star is still made mostly by hand in Germany, carrying forward more than 160 years of history.
Visiting Herrnhut
A few years ago, I had the chance to visit the Herrnhuter Star Visitor Centre in Germany. It felt a bit like stepping into the heart of the tradition. There, I saw artisans piecing the stars together, one careful fold and point at a time. The place radiated not just Christmas spirit, but also a sense of continuity—of generations preserving and passing down a craft.One of the highlights of that visit was sitting down in the craft room to build a small, colourful star of my own. It gave me such an appreciation for the care and patience that go into every Herrnhuter Star. I even filmed a short video of the experience, which you can see in an earlier blog post here: Star Light, Star Bright – My Visit to the Herrnhuter Star Factory.

Bringing the Glow Home
One of the loveliest parts of offering Herrnhuter Moravian Stars through Gingerbread World is hearing back from our customers. Each season, we receive photos of star lanterns hanging in windows, glowing on front porches, or tucked into cozy Christmas displays. Some families have made them a tradition year after year, while others discover them for the very first time and can’t believe the warmth they bring. It’s such a delight to see how these German Christmas Stars travel across oceans and generations, finding a place in homes and hearts all around the world.