Straw stars – decorations with natural materials

Decorations made from straw enjoy a long tradition in Germany. In the 19th century, the straw industry re-ignited the idea of creating straw stars as an alternative product to sell in winter. In Eastern Germany, many home-workers created straw stars. Nowadays, it is more difficult to create straw stars since straw is cultivated with shorter lengths to make it more resistant against winds. 

In the Middle Ages, straw was a resource that many people had access to and it was used to create little gifts for loved ones. Creating straw stars has a religious background. According to legend, a young shepherdess sat on a sack of straw under the starry sky and saw the star of Bethlehem above her, she had the idea of making a straw replica of the star and give it to new-born Jesus.