The ''Räuchermann'' (diminutive ''Räuchermännchen'' ;
Erzgebirgisch
Erzgebirgisch (Standard ; Erzgebirgisch: ) is a (East Central German, East) Central German dialect, spoken mainly in the central Ore Mountains in Saxony. It has received relatively little academic attention. Due to the high mobility of the popula ...
: ''Raachermannel'') is an incense smoker, the invention of toy makers in the
Ore Mountains
The Ore Mountains (, or ; ) lie along the Czech–German border, separating the historical regions of Bohemia in the Czech Republic and Saxony in Germany. The highest peaks are the Klínovec in the Czech Republic (German: ''Keilberg'') at ab ...
, used to burn down cone
incense
Incense is an aromatic biotic material that releases fragrant smoke when burnt. The term is used for either the material or the aroma. Incense is used for aesthetic reasons, religious worship, aromatherapy, meditation, and ceremonial reasons. It ...
, known as ''
Räucherkerzchen''.
The ''Räuchermann'' was first mentioned in 1850 and is now a common component in the Ore Mountain
Christmas tradition. For this, an
incense cone is first lit and then put on the lower half of the two-part wood figurine. The hollowed-out upper part is placed over the lighted cone, which burns down inside of the hollow figurine, the smoke leaving the mouth hole of the ''Räuchermann''.
Before the ''Räuchermann'' was invented, cone incense was displayed and burnt down in the open.
During Christmas time ''Räuchermänner'' are displayed together with ''
Schwibbögen'' (candle arches),
miners' figurines, angels, and
Christmas pyramids.
Several kinds of figurines exist, traditionally representing
craftsmen of the region, such as
forester
A forester is a person who practises forest management and forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including ecological restoration and management of protected areas. Fores ...
s,
peddler
A peddler (American English) or pedlar (British English) is a door-to-door and/or travelling vendor of good (economics), goods. In 19th-century United States the word "drummer" was often used to refer to a peddler or traveling salesman; as exem ...
s,
miners
A miner is a person who extracts ore, coal, chalk, clay, or other minerals from the earth through mining. There are two senses in which the term is used. In its narrowest sense, a miner is someone who works at the rock face (mining), face; cutt ...
, and
soldiers
A soldier is a person who is a member of an army. A soldier can be a conscripted or volunteer enlisted person, a non-commissioned officer, a warrant officer, or an officer.
Etymology
The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word ...
. Today, they exist in many more forms, including the so-called "
edgesitters", which can be placed on the edge of the table, small scenes of several ''Räuchermänner'' (such as a group playing
Skat), and also female Räuchermänner, called ''Räucherfrauen''.
According to the
Guinness Book of Records
''Guinness World Records'', known from its inception in 1955 until 1999 as ''The Guinness Book of Records'' and in previous United States editions as ''The Guinness Book of World Records'', is a British reference book published annually, listi ...
, the largest Räuchermann in the world is in the
Miniaturenpark Kleinwelka in
Bautzen
Bautzen () or Budyšin (), until 1868 ''Budissin'' in German, is a town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and the administrative centre of the Bautzen (district), district of Bautzen. It is located on the Spree (river), Spree river, is the eighth most ...
.
File:Räuchermännchen.jpg, Räuchermännchen
File:Rauchermann - Jager.jpg, As hunter figurine
Moosmännel
As a counterpart to the ''Räuchermann'', artisans of the upper
Vogtland
Vogtland (; ) is a region spanning the German states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and north-western Bohemia in the Czech Republic. It overlaps with and is largely contained within Euroregio Egrensis. The name alludes to the former leadershi ...
invented the
''Moosmann'' (or ''Moosmännel''). He is supposed to be a small
forest spirit who helps poor families with
natural products
A natural product is a natural compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature. In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life. Natural products can also be prepared by chemical s ...
, can change leaves to gold, and—according to
folk tales—mostly appears during Christmas time.
See also
*
Wooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains
*''
Spanbaum''
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rauchermann
Christmas in Germany
Christmas decorations
Winter traditions
Culture of the Ore Mountains
Incense equipment