The market stalls are loaded with vendors selling amazing food, jewelry, scarves and, my personal favorite, beautiful handcrafted Christmas decorations. There are so many choices it's hard to know what to buy. Occasionally our decisions were based on luggage space which is sad but true.
I have brightly colored nutcrackers, delicate glass ornaments, a small hand carved nativity and, one of my very favorite souvenirs, a German pyramid. The pyramids come in several different sizes but mine is four-tiered with six candles around the bottom tier. When you light the candles the paddles on top of the pyramid slowly turn.
I chose this pyramid because it held all the pieces of the nativity story. In the center of the bottom tier you'll find Mary and Joseph with baby Jesus in the manger. All around this scene are the intricately carved camels and kings.
The two middle tiers feature shepherds and their teeny tiny sheep...
And on top of it all is where you'll see the sweet choir of angels...
I can almost hear them singing.
"And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them." Luke 2:7 (NIV)
This post is linked to the December photo challenge hosted by Susan...today's prompt-Away in a Manger.
My uncle and aunt brought back one of those German nativities from Germany while they were stationed there. My mom loves it (She collects nativities)! I think that one is her most unique nativity.
ReplyDeleteI love your pyramid we also bought one from Germany and I cherish it. Yours is gorgeous! Have a wonderful weekend!
ReplyDeleteUnusual ornaments, and great treats. Lucky you.
ReplyDeletehubs has a pyramid from germany...it's only two tiers though...yours is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteLove your pyramid. I have one of those too but didn't know that's what it was called and mine didn't come from Germany. I haven't gotten it out in years. I might just have to go digging for it after seeing yours now. :)
ReplyDeleteI have one almost exactly like yours! I'll have to try to remember to take a picture for you to see. Of course, I didn't acquire mine while having a blast with friends! My mother gives me a nativity every single year and this one was it about 3 years ago.
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say? Great minds...think alike! LOL
That's beautiful. :)
ReplyDeleteHow cool is that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful piece of handiwork! I love German markets.
ReplyDeleteYour pyramid is beautiful. I love how it tells the story of Christ's birth. Thanks for playing along. The link for this is up! Y-A-Y! Blessings, SusanD
ReplyDeleteI used to have one JUST LIKE THAT, but it broke. :(
ReplyDeleteI replaced it with one from Lillian Vernon, but it's a really cheap one and not nearly as pretty as my original, which my MIL brought me from Germany.
I used to have one of these - though not as fancy as yours - wonder what ever happened to it!
ReplyDeleteI've seen these many times and had no idea what they were called. I've always thought it interesting that the candles cause the paddles to turn. Great post (as usual)!
ReplyDeleteOne a fun tradition.
ReplyDeleteI have always loved those and yours is so pretty with the nativity on it. Wow I love all those red ornaments! Those had to be wonderful trips.
ReplyDelete