Christmas 2013 . . . December 12

I haven't forgotten a very important part of every German Christmas -- the Räuchermann  (literally smoking man), or what we in America call "smokers." These fine early smokers are made from a combination of carved wood and bread dough (Brotteig), and the coattails on each are made of heavy paper which has been painted black.  Of course, because of the fragile nature of the paper many old smokers are found without their coattails.   These examples are, once again, the Bergmann, or miner in parade dress, so important to Erzgebirge, and what I call the Town Crier (or perhaps Night Watchman?). 

When the smokers are taken apart little cones, which look like they're made of charcoal, called Räucherkerzen (smoker candles), are placed on a little platform usually lined with tin and then lit.   When the top half is back in place, smoke curls out of the open mouth and our Räuchermann is smoking his pipe!