1. SEIFFEN, A XMAS VILLAGE IN SAXONY (GERMANY)
Seiffen is a village nestled in the very heart of the Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in Saxony, about 50 km south of Dresden, close to the border with the Czech Republic. It is quite remote and accessed by small minor and winding roads.
Due to the decline of the once flourishing silver and tin mining industry in the 17th century, miners were forced to look for a new basis of existence. They got the idea to use the wealth of the huge forests of the Erzgebirge as a raw material source and to turn the carving of wood, which beforehands was considered as a side activity, into their main source of income.
A new trade developed, which in the course of time made the Erzgebirge the Xmas region of Germany.
Dominique LAURENT
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2. The local population produces a variety of wood objects :
Nutcrackers (Nussknackers in German) : the most famous figures are those representing a king (könig), hussard (hussar), angels …
Smoking men (Räuchermännchen in German) (there is a quasi infinite variety of these)
Pyramids (carousels with figures related to the Nativity, the life of Christ, the miners life …)
Candle arches (Schwibbögen in German), often displayed at windows, symbolising the entrance of a mine
Miniatures in match boxes
Music boxes
Toys …

3. Wood model of Seiffen in winter (Seiffen museum)

4. Large (1m high) nutcrackers (the ‘king’)

6. Bergkirche (Seiffen church)

7. A shop with a ‘Schwibbögen’ (bottom right)

8. <- Angle of a house with wood carvings
Large ‘Tannenbaumer’ (Xmas tree) ->

11. ‘Schwibbögen’ (Candle arch) outside of a house
(note the text in Erzgebirge dialect : in German, it reads ‘mein heimat ist in Erzgebirge’ = my homeland is the Ore mountains)

12. Large (1,5 m high) nutcrackers (‘König’)

13. Candle arches

17. ‘Schwibbögen’ (Candle arches) in front of houses

19. <-‘Räuchermann’ (a very large wood model)
A very large pyramid ->

20. ‘Pyramiden’ (the small propeller at the top will set the pyramid spinning when candles are lit at its basis)

21. <- Pyramid (present)
Pyramid (old, 19th century, in museum) ->

24. Traditional nutcracker (king on horseback)
Angel & miner

25. The ‘Kuss manneln’ (lovers)

26. Angel & miner on a balcony

27. Scene on a shop

30. Pyramids & other objects

31. Räuchermännchen (smokers)
The smoke of burning incense will go out thru the mouth

34. Carol singers figurines

41. Nutcrackers (Hussards)

42. Typical miniatures in matchboxes

43. 2 angels and a man (old figurines, Seiffen museum)

44. Old chandelier (Seiffen museum)

45. Old chandelier (Seiffen museum)

46. Old chandelier (left) & detail of an old chandelier (above) (Seiffen museum)

47. Old human size animated toys (Seiffen museum)

48. Old toy box & hussard (Seiffen museum)

49. Old smokers figurines (Räuchermännchen) (Seiffen museum)

50. ‘Glory to God in the highest ; Peace on Earth’ (old small wood model, Seiffen museum)

51. Old music box (Seiffen museum)

52. Old nutcrackers (Seiffen museum)

53. Traditional workshop

54. Making animal figures (bottom) :
A ‘stamm ring tier’ (right)

55. Public lightning
END