Lauscha, Thuringia, Germany — a birthplace of Christmas ornaments

In Central Germany, Thuringia is a birthplace of Christmas traditions: Lauscha, Thuringia
The state of Thuringia, Germany, is known for its cultural heritage, being home to composer Johann Sebastian Bach, the reformer Martin Luther and the poet Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.

Less known, but no less important is Thuringia as the birthplace for many Christmas traditions that are celebrated all over the world. The Christmas tree became famous thanks to a Thuringian lady: Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (1742-1849), who as Queen of England imported the German Christmas tree to Great Britain and from there it made its way around the globe. The famous Christmas Kugeln have their origin in the small village of Lauscha.

More than 160 years ago, glass blowers in a small Thuringian town close to Bavaria began to make strings of beads and little shapes, such as fruit and cones, for their own Christmas tree. These new glass Christmas tree decorations were exhibited at trade fairs and became soon known worldwide as Christmas Kugeln. The long tradition of glass-blowing is still upheld in Lauscha today. Demonstrations can be seen in glass-blowing workshops and you can find some of the most spectacular examples in the local Glass Craft Museum (Glasmuseum Lauscha).

Website: Glasmuseum Lauscha (glasmuseum-lauscha.de)

Website: Ellias Glashütte in Lauscha: Farbglashütte Lauscha – ELIAS Glashütte – Farbglashütte Lauscha (farbglashuette-lauscha.de)

Also the largest selection of Christmas ornaments is on sale once a year for two Sundays before Christmas at the Lauscha Ball Market.

Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen (Adelaide Amelia Louise Theresa Caroline; 13 August 1792 – 2 December 1849), born in Meiningen, Thuringia, was Queen consort of the United Kingdom and Hanover as the wife of King William IV. Adelaide was the daughter of George I, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen, and Luise Eleonore of Hohenlohe-Langenburg. Adelaide, the capital city of South Australia, is named after her.

Map Lauscha

Official Website of Lauscha, Thuringia: Lauscha, Thuringia (Lauscha.de)