Happy fifth day of Christmas. Today I bring you a paper Moravian star, which you can buy already folded and tree-ready at the Moravian Book Shop. I remember an orange and red one on our tree growing up, but I’m not sure where it got to. You can also buy kits to make these stars yourself in the shop on the second floor of the Smithy next to Hotel Bethlehem.
We are in the period where we wait for Epiphany (Jan 6, the last day of Christmas), when the Wise Men came (who are following the star to Bethlehem). This origami-esque star dates to the 1850s when it was used as a lesson in a geometry class for boys in Niesky, Germany. Every year I attempt to make my own and get about halfway through before giving up. Part of the problem: instructions that are about as clear as mud (seriously, I’ve done a fair amount of origami and whoever wrote these instructions is probably better at showing the steps in a live demonstration than trying to articulate the steps in the written word), with illustrations that confuse more than help. Since these are for ages 8+ I guess I’ll just have to get my niece or nephew to figure it out for me.
