Dresden, GERMANY – There is hardly a Christmas decoration that can be seen more often in the German region of Saxony – ever popular and known as Erzgebirge folk art from Seiffen, it is impossible to imagine most German households without the angel of light and miner as a pair.
The carved wooden figures depict an angel with candles in his hand at the side of a miner, also carrying candles, in traditional, mostly local Erzgebirge mountain garb – the European traditional clothing of miners.
The pair symbolize the symbiosis between light and the angel’s blessing, which the miner needed for his work in the dark mountain.
The collier has existed as a candlestick on altars in the Erzgebirge since the 16th century, presumably inspired by the customary pewter figures that traditionally held the altar candle.
In the Ore Mountains on the Czech-German border and other traditional regions, another custom has grown over the centuries. Traditionally, a little miner is placed in the window of every house for every unmarried boy and an illuminated angel for unmarried girls.
In the meantime, the figures have also become popular collector’s items and are sold at Christmas markets throughout Germany, but especially in Saxony.
The Saxon town of Seiffen is home to most of the workshops and attracts thousands of tourists every year by demonstrating and selling traditional Erzgebirge culture and miners. In addition to figurines of miners, a parade of miners in their traditional costumes is typical.
Lina Marie Schulenkorf is a Senior Reporter with Youth Journalism International.
