Inside, the church is almost entirely white and has high ceilings and tall windows. The main decorations are a large illuminated 26-point star (technically a "Great Stellated Rhombicuboctahedron") and, below it, a giant tree covered in smaller origami stars. Otherwise, there are a few unadorned live wreaths. The emphasis is on music and lighting, with lit beeswax candles distributed at the end when the room is otherwise dark. Overall, the interior feels clean, peaceful, and welcoming — the main things I strive for in my own home year-round.
While shiny metallic trees have their allure, pared-down decorating wins me over with its emphasis on lighting, natural materials, and two or three colors max. I'm also on board with the Moravian emphasis on handmade decoration: the congregation at the church in my town makes and trims its own beeswax candles, and the city in Germany founded by the group is famous for its handmade stars.
For more background on Moravian stars, check out Anna's thorough retrospect. To see them being made in Germany, look to Time magazine, or follow these directions to fold your own star.
Resources:
Herrnhuter Sterne (in Germany)
Moravian Bookshop
Moravianstars.com
Etsy seller Starcrosses
Handmade beeswax tapers
Images: 1. Galen Frysinger 2. City-data.com 3. Shanna Murray 4. Etsy seller Starcrosses 5. Etsy seller Vakvar
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I live near Bethlehem and it is such a lovely city at Christmastime. The simple decorations and the Moravian stars are magical--and I finally learned how to fold paper ones last year! They look great on our own Christmas tree.
Very pretty!
Lovely and interesting post!
really interesting post Kim. I knew nothing about Moravian culture or decorating.
Moravian stars! I collect them (and other tesselated polyhedrons). Those little white interwoven star ornaments are a particular nightmare of mine, though. I was required to learn how to make them and then teach it for a program at my library once, and it was NOT a fun experience! (It takes a certain coordination and skill that many participants didn't have, and it was very hard to communicate with them on what to do differently since I was new to it myself...) (However, for the handy, there are good instructions online, one set at HGTV.com. Google "German paper stars".)
Hey, that's my church! I grew up going to Central Moravian and got married this past January in the Old Chapel. I can't imagine anything other than a good old Moravian Christmas service. Central was even listed as one of the best places to reflect on Christmas Eve... Thanks for sharing some Moravian traditions :)
We've always call the little paper ones we make "froebel stars" ... I love this post and the context it gives them. I make dozens and dozens of these, stringing them in white like the third picture, and just love them. Thanks for this! :)
I went to school in Allentown, just one town over from Bethlehem. It really is lovely around Christmas, although the Moravian Bookshop is a fun visit all year!