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Christmas pyramid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The origins of the Christmas pyramids date back to the
Middle Ages. In this period it was traditional in
southern and
western Europe to bring evergreen branches, for example
boxwood into the home and hang them, in order to ward off moroseness in the dark and cold winter months. In
northern and
eastern Europe traditional candles were used to achieve this goal. The Christmas pyramid would eventually unify these two traditions and become a symbol of Christmas celebrations.
The forefather to the pyramid was a construction known as a "Lichtergestelle" (literally: thing on which lights are set) and were very popular in the 18th century. They were constructions made of four poles, decorated with evergreen boughs, tied together at the top and lit with candles.
In the large cities, the
Christmas tree, now recognizable all over the world, gradually replaced the Lichtergestelle, but in the mountains, the people did not see a simple tree bedecked with lights, rather they were reminded of the
capstans, which were commonly used in the mines of the Ore Mountains. To the pyramid shape was added the spinning motion of the capstan and the earliest Christmas pyramids were born.