How German Traditions Shaped Christmas in Texas

Unless you — or perhaps your Oma — live in the German Belt of south-central Texas, you may not realize how many of the beloved holiday decorations we pull down from our attics every Christmas trace their roots back to Europe. Nutcrackers that guard trees, candlelit carousels that enthrall children, Moravian stars that symbolize hope and community — they all descend from traditions German settlers brought to Texas in the 1800s.

Traditional Décor and Legends

A few old-world Handicrafts with stories to tell.

Hand-Carved Nutcrackers: About a century before their famous dance battle with the Mouse King, wooden nutcrackers rose to popularity in late 18th-century East Germany. As mines in the Ore Mountains closed, many miners turned to toymaking, carving nutcrackers from local timber. More than just walnut-cracking tools, they became whimsical guardians believed to bring luck and protect the home.

Stop by The Grasshopper in Fredericksburg, where rows of colorful Christian Ulbricht kings, drummers, and toy soldiers line the shelves, waiting to become family heirlooms.

Candlelit German Pyramids: Despite the name, German Christmas pyramids look less like pyramids and more like miniature candlelit carousels. Each tier often features angels or nativity scenes, and the rising heat from candles sets the whole piece gently in motion. Originating in the same Ore Mountain region as nutcrackers, these pyramids were a clever way to teach children Bible stories.

Most German pyramids are small enough to sit on a table, but this is Texas, where nothing is small. Fredericksburg kicks off the Christmas season by lighting a towering 26-foot Weihnachtspyramide in its downtown Marktplatz. You can buy a replica down the street at Kuckuck’s Nest and The Grasshopper.

The Christkindl Angel: In parts of Germany, gifts arrive not from Santa Claus but from the Christkindl Angel, a fairy-like figure with a gold gown and glittering wings. On Christmas Eve, children are ushered out of the room while the Christkindl Angel secretly decorates the tree and leaves behind gifts. A small bell rings to signal her departure, and only then can the family return to open presents.

Despite her elusive presence, the Christkindl Angel has been known to make an appearance at the Texas Christkindl Market, where she greets children and poses for photos.

Moravian Stars: Paper Moravian stars first appeared in 19th-century Germany as a classroom geometry project. Missionaries and church workers adopted them as a symbol of the star of Bethlehem, and today they are crafted from paper, pins, or even glass and hung around the house during the holiday season.

Nearly every artisan shop with Christmas décor carries Moravian stars, from upcycled paper ornaments made of sheet music by the Blue Genie Art Bazaar in Austin to the rustic wooden Moravian star ornaments by Rancho Diaz in San Antonio. There are numerous tutorials online for making DIY Moravian stars, ideal for craft lovers looking for a challenge.

Noteworthy German Christmas Events

Where to celebrate the holidays, European-style.

Texas Christkindl Market, Arlington
Nov. 21–23 & Nov. 28–Dec. 23
Arlington’s sister-city connection to Bad Königshofen, Germany, inspired this storybook holiday market, modeled after Rothenburg ob der Tauber’s famous Christmas village. Stroll among Käthe Wohlfahrt collectibles, sip a hot drink, and let the kids (and even the family dog) meet Santa.

German-Texan Heritage Society Christmas Market, Austin
Nov. 29, Dec. 3 (members only) & Dec. 6 (open to the public)
Austin’s historic German Free School becomes an old-world wonderland, filled with Erzgebirge ornaments made in the Ore Mountains, kids crafts, and a visit from St. Nick. Proceeds support the German Texan Heritage Society’s efforts to preserve German culture across Texas.

Tomball German Christmas Market, Tomball
Dec. 12–14
Downtown Tomball transforms into a German street fair with more than 160 vendors, three music stages, and contests ranging from Bavarian dancing to — you guessed it — yodeling. Don’t miss the Willkommen ceremony welcoming Tomball’s German exchange students.

Fredericksburg Christmas Market, Fredericksburg
Dec. 13
Come to one of the “wildest” German Christmas events of the season at Grapetown Vineyard, featuring more than 300 exotic animals, including live reindeer, camels, and Jerusalem donkeys. Step into the magical Christmas market for handicrafts, bratwurst and pretzels, live music, and more.

The Texas Zoo German Christmas Fest, Victoria
Dec. 20
Wish the Texas Zoo’s animals good tidings under a dazzling canopy of holiday lights. Browse more than 30 artisan stalls, snap a photo with Santa, and savor German treats while enjoying live jazz.

DIY Ornaments

Although it originated in ancient Egypt, salt dough became a popular medium for German handicrafts centuries ago. It’s easy to see why families have made salt dough ornaments for generations: Salt dough requires only three ingredients — flour, water, and salt — and does not require a kiln to cure.

Makes approximately 2 dozen ornaments

Materials

• 1 cup table salt
• 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup warm water
• 2 large pieces of parchment paper
• Large mixing bowl and spoon
• Rolling pin
• Cookie cutters
• Straw
• Baking sheet
• Ribbon or twine
• Mod Podge (or a clear acrylic spray sealant)
• Glitter or paint (optional)

Instructions

Step 1

Combine salt and flour in the mixing bowl. Slowly pour in the warm water while stirring. Once stirring becomes difficult, knead the dough with your hands until pliable.

Step 2

Place some of the dough onto a sheet of parchment paper and place another sheet on top. Flatten the dough with a rolling pin until it’s about 1⁄8 inch thick. Remove the top sheet and use cookie cutters to make shapes. Peel away the excess, leaving the shapes on the paper. Using a straw, punch out a hole in the top of each shape (for the ribbon).

Step 3

Preheat oven to 200 F. Transfer the parchment paper with the shapes to a baking sheet. Bake until hard (1 hour or more, depending on thickness). Allow them to cool completely.

Step 4

You can hang salt dough ornaments as is with twine for a classic, rustic vibe, but adding paint and glitter can bring a lot of fun to this craft. If the dough browned in spots, you could create a blank canvas by applying a thin coat of white spray paint before adding acrylic or puff paints. For an all-over glitter effect, apply a coat of Mod Podge, sprinkle the glitter, and shake off the excess.

Step 5

Seal the ornaments with another thin layer of Mod Podge or spray polyurethane. Hang on your tree with a festive ribbon.

For more inspiration to create a cozy home around the holidays, crack open the complete guide to decorating for Christmas.