In the quaint village of Herrnhut, nestled near the borders of Poland and the Czech Republic, a centuries-old tradition continues to illuminate the darkest days of winter. The Moravian stars, a symbol of the Star of Bethlehem, have become a cherished part of Christmas celebrations across Germany and beyond. These stars, handmade for over 180 years, adorn church steeples, apartment windows, and even the chancellery in Berlin during Advent. Katja Ruppert, managing director of the Herrnhuter Sterne manufacturing company, explains that the stars represent the guiding light that led the three wise men to the Christ Child. The tradition began in 1722 when refugees from the Moravian Church, fleeing persecution in Bohemia and Moravia, founded Herrnhut under the protection of Count Nikolaus von Zinzendorf. The stars were born out of a geometry lesson in one of the schools established by the church, where a math teacher tasked students with creating a complex geometric shape. This initial cardboard star was patented in 1925, allowing it to be dismantled for shipping and reassembled. Today, the stars come in various sizes, colors, and materials, ranging from 8 centimeters to 250 centimeters in diameter, with prices starting at 19 euros. The company has expanded its offerings to include monochrome, varicolored, and even ‘literary stars’ made from the pages of old books. A handicrafts workshop in Herrnhut allows visitors to create their own stars, while a showroom showcases the diverse range of designs. The Moravian star’s popularity has grown significantly in the past two decades, with over 820,000 stars produced annually by 230 employees. Despite their local fame, the stars have yet to be widely exported, though Moravian Church communities in places like Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and Christiansfeld, Denmark, also feature them during Advent. For many, like hairdresser Silk Schmidt, the stars are a cherished part of their holiday traditions, bringing light and beauty to the winter season.