The Tradition of Tinsel - the Legend of the Christmas Spider
The story of the Christmas Spider appears in many different versions throughout central and eastern Europe. In all of them the spiders' webs, spun on Christmas Eve, turn to silver and are seen as the beginning of the beautiful tradition of hanging sparkling tinsel on your Christmas tree. The tinsel symbolizes a Christmas miracle from long ago.Â
And, the Christmas Spider legend beckons us to give thanks to the industrious spiders by hanging a spider ornament in a special place on our trees.
   
In Germany, the legend has it that a poor woman was unable to provide the traditional decorations for the Christmas holiday. A spider, who had narrowly escaped the dust mop, made his home in her tree and began to spin beautiful webs. On Christmas morning, the first light of the day struck the cobwebs, turning them to silver. When the woman awoke, she found the tree covered with silver treasure - the spider had brought good fortune! And the tradition of hanging tinsel on one's Christmas tree was begun.
This Christmas, pair the Christmas Spider ornament from Inge-Glas with one of these two delightful children's books as a charming addition to your Christmas traditions.
Cobweb Christmas: The Tradition of Tinsel by Shirley Cimo with illustrations by Jane Manning -Â
and
The Spider's Gift: A Ukrainian Christmas Story by retold by Eric A. Kimmel with illustrations by Katya KreninaÂ
There is nothing more special than adding a touch of folklore with a piece of Inge-Glas folk art to your Christmas.
Enjoy our Pinterest Board on Inge-Glas - here
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Wendt and Kuhn 2023 figures
New in 2022 - Angel Orchestra Musician with Alpenhorn
New for 2022 is Wendt and Kühn's Angel Musician with Alpenhorn (Alp Horn (alphorn) / Alpine Horn)  Â
  The Alpenhorn is a straight wooden horn from 5 to 14 feet long.
When the new Grunhainichen Angel blows into his alphorn its unmistakable sound can be heard over many miles. Originally used as a means of communications in the mountains, the instrument has long since found its way into the hearts of fans of the alpenhorn all over the world.   
With its soft, calming tones it enriches both jazz compositions and modern pieces. It is even to be found in classical music.
The Angel comes with either brown or blonde hair and is available here.
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Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf brought to us by Wendt and Kühn
Little Red Riding Hood is on her way to her Grandmother's house, bringing her a lovely basket of cake, something special to drink, and some beautiful flowers.
   
Yes, she is a truly favorite fairy tale known to all of us - yet, at the same time bringing good cheer, she makes a delightful addition to any special occasion.
She is new in 2019, stands 2" tall, and comes with a Wendt and Kühn Presentation / Gift Box.
Grete Wendt loved the world of fairy tales and used her fascination for them to create a whole series of delightful figurines. One of them is Little Red Riding Hood and a companion piece of the Big Bad Wolf.Â
   
Other names for the story are: "Little Red Riding hood," "Little Red Cap," or simply "Red Riding Hood."Â
"Little Red Riding Hood is a European fairy tale whose origins can be traced back to the 10th century to several European folk tales. One of the best known versions was written by the Brothers Grimm.Â
Little Red Riding Hood is named after her red hooded cape/cloak. She walks through the woods to deliver food to her sickly grandmother (wine and cake depending on the translation). In the Grimms' version, her mother had ordered her to stay strictly on the path.
The Big Bad Wolf wants to eat her and the food in the basket. He secretly stalks her behind trees, bushes, shrubs, and patches of little and tall grass. He approaches Little Red Riding Hood, who naively tells him where she is going. He suggests that the girl pick some flowers as a present for her grandmother, which she does. In the meantime, he goes to the grandmother's house and gains entry by pretending to be the girl. He swallows the grandmother whole (in some stories, he locks her in the closet) and waits for the girl, disguised as the grandma.
In the Grimm's German version a hunter comes to the rescue with an axe, and cuts open the sleeping wolf. Little Red Riding Hood and her grandmother emerge unharmed. They fill the wolf's body with heavy stones. The wolf awakens and attempts to flee, but the stones cause him to collapse and die." - Wikipedia
Beginning in 2017 and over the next few years Wendt and Kühn will release a new fairy tale figurine every fall to add to the joy. Cinderella is the first in the series, Star Magic - the Sterntaler Girl - is the second, and Red Riding Hood is the third.
Click here for the companion pieces - The Big Bad Wolf and the Little Red Riding Hood Jig-saw Puzzle.
   
Brück and Sohn Advent Calendars - European Cities and More - Limited Supplies Available
Brück and Sohn (Printers in Meissen, Germany 1793-2018) celebrate European cities and culture with their exquisite Advent Calendars. After honoring their 225th anniversary in October 2018, the 7th generation, Annette and Helmut Brück, retired, closing their doors. An era has come to an end.
My Growing Traditions has scavenged where we could and replenished our inventory in hopes of being able to make them available to you as long as possible. We do have limited supplies available.
Here we present a few customer favorites -Â
  
The Brücks continue to memorialize the history of their company and offer a small museum and postcard archive which are preserved in Meissen and which are open to the public by appointment. Â
Given our limited supplies we recommend you secure yours now. You can click on the photos and titles above, or click here: to find the entire collectionÂ
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A new annual Special Edition Series from Wendt and Kühn to Celebrate Advent and Saint Nicholas Day
Wendt and Kühn is creating a new annual special edition series, meant to be a small, perfect, yet precious gift for Advent or Saint Nicholas Day (December 6).
For 2019 they give us a charming Angel on a Star at 2" tall. The Angel is similar to the legendary Angel 28 designed by Grete Wendt even before Wendt and Kühn was founded. The Angel has a special label on the underside of its base with the words "Zum Weihnachtsfest 2019" (For Christmas 2019) and comes in the Green and Gold Wendt and Kuehn presentation box.
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Wendt and Kühn's Sterntaler Girl / Star Magic / Star Money - New for 2018 - A Symbol of Humanity
New for 2018, Wendt and Kühn brings us their latest fairytale figure, the Sterntaler Girl / Star Magic - a symbol of humanity.
    
Grete Wendt loved the world of fairy tales and used her fascination for them to create a whole series of delightful figurines. One of them is the Sterntaler Girl - Star Money / Star Magic. Sitting in a moonlit glade, the Sterntaler Girl spreads out her apron. When stars fall from the heavens and turn into coins it is fairy tale time at Wendt and Kühn.Â
A Grimm's Fairy Tale, the Star Talers, "An unnamed, orphaned girl is poor and homeless; she has only her clothing and a loaf of bread that a kindhearted soul has given her. She is a goodhearted person, however, and so she goes out into the countryside to see what might happen. She gives a hungry man her bread, and to three cold children she gives her cap, her jacket, and her dress. After wandering into a forest, she sees a naked child begging for a shift, and since it is dark and she cannot be seen, she gives her own shift away. As she stands there with nothing left at all, suddenly stars fall to earth before her, becoming talers [brightly shining coins], and she finds herself wearing a new shift of the finest linen. The story ends with her being rich." - Wikipedia
    
Illustration by Heinrich Voegeler
"This fairy tale was particularly popular before the first World War as it symbolized the compassionate man who helps others even when he apparently has nothing himself. Grete Wendt first designed the Sterntaler Girl in 1930.
Now nearly a century later she still stands for compassion, modesty, and care for others. Those values are today more important than ever. The Sterntaler Girl is a symbol for humanity, one of the reasons Wendt and Kühn chose this particular fairy tale to continue the fairy tale collection in 2018" - Wendt and Kühn
She is also available in a 24-piece jigsaw puzzle - find it here.
Beginning in 2017 and over the next few years Wendt and Kühn will release a new fairy tale figurine every fall to add to the joy. Cinderella is the first in the series and the Sterntaler Girl is the second.
You will definitely want to add this very special piece to your collection.
