What are Christmas smokers?
In the early 1800s, carvers in the Erzgebirge began carving Räuchermännchen or Smokers to burn incense during the holiday season. They were meant to symbolize the gifts brought on the Epiphany Jan. 6, as well as clear out the spirits of the previous year.
What are German Christmas smokers?
The Use of Incense A German Smoker is much more than a simple toy that sits on your mantle during Christmas time. It’s also an incense burner that is used to symbolize the gift of incense brought to Jesus by the Three Wise Men.
What is an incense smoker?
The Räuchermann (diminutive Räuchermännchen), erzgebirgisch Raachermannel is an incense smoker, the invention of toy makers in the Ore Mountains, used to burn down cone incense, known as Räucherkerzchen. For this, an incense cone is first lit and then put on the lower half of the two-part wood figurine.
What are German smokers?
The German Rauchermann, commonly known as a “German smoker,” is an incense-burning decoration from the Ore Mountains (the Erzgebirge). These German smokers are wooden figurines usually carved into small men. The upper part of its body is hollowed out so cone incense can be placed inside.
How do Christmas smokers work?
The base of the smoker is where an incense cone can be placed in the center and the hollowed out top of the smoker fits over the cone. A small hole is drilled into the bottom of the base which forces the smoke from the incense cone to travel out of the top of the smoker through the mouth hole of the figurine.
Where are German smokers made?
Erzgebirge
From the mountainous Erzgebirge region between Germany and the Czech Republic, KWO (Kunstgewerbe-Werkstätten Olbernhau GmbH) has been producing original wood art since 1949.
How do incense smokers work?
What is a German Smoking Man?
Using the wood from trees that are indigenous to the Erzgebirge region, German smokers are carved from a single piece of wood by skilled craftsmen. German smoker figurines come in all shapes and sizes, but their inspiration usually comes from the everyday working man.
How does a German incense smoker work?
Generally, incense burners work in this way:
- The burning incense sucks up oxygen trough a little air-hole in the burners base.
- The air keeps the incense cone burning as smoke rises ourt of the butrners mouth (or chimney)
How do German Christmas smokers work?
While carved from the same piece of wood, German smokers are actually two pieces that fit together to make one unified piece. The base of the smoker is where an incense cone can be placed in the center and the hollowed out top of the smoker fits over the cone.
