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Alsace proudly claims several of the oldest Christmas decoration traditions in Europe. The first written mention of a decorated Christmas tree dates from 1521 in Sélestat. The mouth-blown glass Christmas bauble was born in Meisenthal in the Vosges in the mid-19th century. Woven straw stars, Advent wreaths and carved wooden figurines are regional traditions that have spread throughout the world.
Decorating one's home the Alsatian way for Christmas means joining this long tradition and choosing objects steeped in history and meaning. It also means favouring natural materials - glass, straw, wood, terracotta, embroidered linen - that warm the interior and create an authentic atmosphere far removed from mass-produced plastic decorations.
The mouth-blown glass Christmas bauble is undoubtedly the most emblematic Christmas ornament of Alsace. Born in Meisenthal in the Vosges in the mid-19th century, it has spread throughout the world while retaining its Alsatian and Lorraine roots. Each bauble is blown by hand by a glassblower who breathes their technique and breath into the molten glass to create a perfectly round and lightweight form.
Authentic Alsatian baubles are distinguished by the fineness of their wall - much thinner than industrial productions - and by the richness of their hand-painted decorations. Traditional motifs depict snowy Alsatian landscapes, half-timbered villages, storks, fir trees and stars. Each bauble is a unique work deserving to be passed down from generation to generation.
To decorate your tree, favour a mix of baubles of different sizes and finishes: matte, glossy, pearlescent or glittered. Traditional Alsatian colours are red, green, gold and white, but more contemporary hues such as midnight blue or burgundy also integrate very well into an Alsatian-inspired decoration.
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The Alsatian Christmas table is an institution. Laid with care and attention, it reflects the love of conviviality and beauty that characterises Alsatian culture. Embroidered table linen occupies a central place in this tradition: tablecloths, table sets, napkins and table runners adorned with Christmas motifs - fir trees, stars, reindeer, angels and traditional geometric patterns - transform the table into a living picture.
Alsatian embroidery motifs for Christmas draw from a rich and varied iconographic repertoire. Six-pointed stars, inherited from Germanic influence, sit alongside stylised fir trees, bells and candleholders. The dominant colours are red and green on a white or ecru background, but some contemporary embroideries explore bolder palettes while retaining the traditional spirit.
For a perfectly Alsatian Christmas table, combine an embroidered table runner in Christmas colours with red candles in terracotta lanterns, a few fresh fir branches and a beautiful basket of bredele for dessert.
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The traditional Alsatian Christmas tree follows precise codes that distinguish it from overly loaded and glittering trees. Alsatian aesthetics favour harmony and sobriety: a limited number of colours, ornaments chosen for their quality rather than quantity, and subdued lighting that showcases each decoration.
In addition to mouth-blown glass baubles, the traditional Alsatian Christmas tree is adorned with woven straw stars, small painted carved wooden figurines, gilded pine cones, cinnamon sticks tied with red ribbon and small boxes of bredele hung like miniature gifts. Warm golden or white warm-bulb fairy lights advantageously replace coloured garlands for a more muted and elegant atmosphere.
At the foot of the tree, an Alsatian Christmas crib with its carved wooden or painted terracotta figurines completes the decoration harmoniously. Alsatian nativity figures, dressed in traditional regional costumes, add a much-appreciated touch of authenticity.
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Light plays a central role in Alsatian Christmas decoration. During the four weeks of Advent, the windows of Alsatian homes light up with candles and lanterns that create a warm and welcoming atmosphere visible from the street. This tradition of the window light, inherited from Germanic countries, is particularly vibrant in Alsace where it contributes to creating the magical Advent atmosphere so characteristic of the region.
Traditional Alsatian lanterns are made from Soufflenheim terracotta, pierced with geometric patterns or silhouettes of fir trees and stars that filter the candlelight creating shadow plays on the walls. Placed on windowsills, on the mantelpiece or at the centre of the table, they diffuse a soft and flickering light that instantly evokes the atmosphere of Alsatian Christmas markets.
For a successful light decoration, alternate lanterns of different heights and sizes, red or ivory pillar candles and small battery-powered fairy lights concealed in glass bowls or metal lanterns.
To decorate one's home the Alsatian way with authentic products, several options are available. Alsace's Christmas markets are of course the ideal place to discover and buy decorations directly from local craftspeople and producers. The markets of Ribeauvillé, Eguisheim and Kaysersberg offer in particular a quality selection at reasonable prices.
Alsatian craft shops in the Wine Route villages offer authentic decorations all year round: blown baubles, straw stars, terracotta lanterns and embroidered table linen. Quality there is generally superior to that of tourist shops in the larger cities.
For those who cannot travel to Alsace, online shops specialising in Alsatian regional crafts allow authentic decorations to be received directly at home, carefully packaged. This is the ideal solution for giving an Alsatian Christmas to loved ones far from the region.
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