Have you ever wondered about the reasoning behind some of our holiday decorations? Why do we use red and green colors, or candy canes? Why do we adorn gifts with a bow? While some of these may seem arbitrary, most of them actually have a special meaning.
Take stars. The Christmas star symbolizes the star of Bethlehem, which, according to the Biblical story, guided the three kings to the baby Jesus. The star is also the heavenly sign of a prophecy fulfilled long ago and the shining hope for humanity.
I was born and raised in Germany, where stars are abundant during the Christmas season. You’ll find them in homes, shops, and Christmas markets, of course. And I have a personal love affair with them.
The best known may be the Moravian star (seen in the photos above), which can also be seen in many parts of the US these days. There are indoor and outdoor versions, and they come in all kinds of sizes.
They are truly beautiful. I love mine so much that it stays above my work desk at home year-round.
Then there are the more exotic looking ones too, like these.
But my true love is paper stars. I’ve admired them since I was a child and treasure them for their simplicity (although some are hard to make) and their sustainability. They are pure hygge to me.
Making them is a great family activity. My absolute favorites are made of sandwich bags. They are easy to store and make lovely gifts that can easily be mailed to loved ones far away.
There are countless tutorials on YouTube or Instagram should you wish to make them. It’s a fun activity to do with your kids or grandkids over the holidays. Here’s a a nice, simple tutorial to get you started:
Homemade stars are frugal, crafty, and easily improvised. One time I ran out of the white bags, but had saved wine paper bags, and voila, they worked. You probably already have the materials you need in your pantry.
Cheers to a sustainable and healthy holiday season!