The ''Räuchermann'' (diminutive ''Räuchermännchen''),

erzgebirgisch Erzgebirgisch (Standard ; Erzgebirgisch: ''Arzgebirgsch'') is a Central German dialect, spoken mainly in the central Erzgebirge (Ore Mountains) in Saxony. It has received relatively little academic attention. Due to the high mobility of the popu ...

''Raachermannel'' is an incense smoker, the invention of toy makers in the Ore Mountains, used to burn down cone

incense Incense is 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 ceremony. It may also ...

, known as '' Räucherkerzchen''. The ''Räuchermann'' was first mentioned in 1850 and is now a common component in the Ore Mountain

Christmas tradition Christmas traditions include a variety of customs, religious practices, rituals, and folklore associated with the celebration of Christmas. Many of these traditions vary by country or region, while others are practiced in a virtually identical ...

. 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 A ''schwibbogen'' (, from Middle High German ', "to hover") is a decorative candle-holder from the Ore Mountains (''Erzgebirge'') region of Saxony, Germany. The first metal ''schwibbogen'' was made in 1740 in Johanngeorgenstadt. The early ...

'' (candle arches),

miners' figurines A miner's figure (german: Bergmannsfigur) is a traditional Christmas decoration from the Ore Mountains of central Europe. Miners' figures are turned or carved out of wood, and often bear two candles. They are usually displayed together with a ...

, 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 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. Foresters manage forests ...

peddler A peddler, in British English pedlar, also known as a chapman, packman, cheapjack, hawker, higler, huckster, (coster)monger, colporteur or solicitor, is a door-to-door and/or travelling vendor of goods. In England, the term was mostly used f ...

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; cutting, blasting ...

, 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, or an officer. Etymology The word ''soldier'' derives from the Middle English word , from Old French ...

. 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 reference book published annually, listing world ...

, the largest Räuchermann in the world is in the Miniaturenpark Kleinwelka in

Bautzen Bautzen () or Budyšin () is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and the administrative centre of the district of Bautzen. It is located on the Spree river. In 2018 the town's population was 39,087. Until 1868, its German name was ''Bu ...

. File:Räuchermännchen.jpg, Räuchermännchen File:Rauchermann - Jager.jpg, As hunter figurine

Moosmännel

As a counterpart to the ''Räuchermann'', artisans of the upper

Vogtland Vogtland (; cz, Fojtsko) 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 Euregio Egrensis. The name alludes to the forme ...

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 sy ...

, can change leaves to gold, and—according to

folk tales Oral literature, orature or folk literature is a genre of literature that is spoken or sung as opposed to that which is written, though much oral literature has been transcribed. There is no standard definition, as anthropologists have used vary ...

—mostly appears during Christmas time.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Rauchermann Christmas in Germany Christmas decorations Winter traditions Culture of the Ore Mountains Incense equipment

Moosmännel

See also

References

External links