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Moravian Stars in the Strietzelmarkt in Dresden

A Moravian Star (German: Herrnhuter Stern) is an illuminated piece of Advent or Christmas decoration popular in Germany.

A Moravian Star has a regular shape, but most do not have a point on the top, which would make them true polyhedrons and the hanging apparatus is attached in this position. The stars take their name from the Moravian Church. Moravian Stars originated in the boarding schools founded by the Moravians to house the children of the missionaries sent throughout the world.

In 1821, as the United Boys Institution (Unitäts-Knabenanstalt) celebrated its 50th year in Niesky, an illuminated star with 110 points was hung in the courtyard. It was not hung during Advent, rather during the Feast of the Three Kings, or Epiphany, because the anniversary celebration took place from the 4th through the 9th of January. The stars caught on and were seen to fit in well with the simple, white halls of the Moravian style. Other boarding schools began to make and hang their own stars during Advent, as part of Manger scenes or as independent decorations.

Already at the beginning of the 20th Century the industrial manufacture of Moravian Stats had begun. Starting the 20's the Sterngesellschaft mbH produced an especailly practical 25-pointed star which is now the most the most seen version though many still consider the 110-point version the "original". In the German Democratic Republic (East Germany) there was also a Star producing firm.

Today the Herrnhuter Stern GmbH produces more than 60 varieties of stars and the lighting apparatus. Stars are made of paper or plastic and are often seen in Protestant churches, who buy them to support the misisonary work of the Moravian Church.

• Make a Moravian Star

This article incorporates text translated from the corresponding German Wikipedia article as of December 24, 2006.