Christmas pyramid

[2] Not actually pyramid-shaped, the Christmas pyramid is a kind of carousel with several levels, some depicting Christian motifs such as angels or manger scenes, and others with more secular motifs such as mountain-folk, forests, and other scenes from the everyday life of people in the Ore Mountains.

They include the story of Jesus Christ being born, of shepherds and wise men visiting the child, and of angels rejoicing in heaven.

The nativity scene often is placed on the longest shelf at the bottom of the pyramid, while a pine cone or a star would crown the top.

The custom spread across Europe, mainly to Italy and England and was brought to America by German immigrants in the 18th century.

In this period it was traditional in southern and western Europe to bring evergreen branches, for example boxwood, into the home and hang them in order to ward off moroseness in the dark and cold winter months.

They were constructions made of four poles, decorated with evergreen boughs, tied together at the top and lit with candles.