German Christmas Museum
A Journey Through Time and Festive Traditions
From Idea to Experience
When the German Christmas Museum opened its doors in Rothenburg ob der Tauber in 2000, it was the first of its kind in Germany. Born from the desire to document the historical roots of German Christmas traditions and bring them to life, it quickly became a special attraction for visitors from all over the world. The museum is located on the first floor above Käthe Wohlfahrt's Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) – a place where culture and commerce merge in a truly unique way. While over 20,000 different Christmas items await a new home on the ground floor, the museum above invites visitors to discover the origins of Advent calendars, tree ornaments and nutcrackers – ornaments whose roots can often be traced back to German regions.
Where Christmas Decorations Come From
Most of the world's best-loved Christmas decorations originally came from Germany, which is why the museum's permanent exhibition feels like an atmospheric journey through time. Historic Christmas decorations made of glass, spun cotton, gum tragacanth and paper, richly detailed paper nativity scenes, gift-bringer figures, nutcrackers, Christmas tree stands, Christmas pyramids and much more, together with themed special exhibitions, bring the evolution of decorative Christmas culture to life across the centuries. The museum thus serves not only as a place of collection and research, but also as a mirror of cultural identity across regional diversity.
Myths, Fairy Tales and Misconceptions
Anyone who believes that "Santa Claus" is an American invention in a red coat with a reindeer sleigh is mistaken – at least in part. In fact, the world-famous figure from the Coca-Cola advertisements of the 1930s is based on older European traditions. Long before that, various gift-bringers already existed in Germany – from St Nicholas to the Christ Child, right through to "Father Winter", depicted in 1847 by Munich painter Moritz von Schwind as a snowy, fatherly character. Even the "Weihnachtsmann" (Father Christmas) as we know him today is, at its core, a cultural mosaic of different customs and regions. The German Christmas Museum traces these origins in detail, showing how religious figures, folk legends and clever marketing combined to create the icons that shape our idea of Christmas around the world today. Here, visitors discover not only how rich and varied German festive culture is, but also that many supposed Christmas clichés have surprisingly German roots.
An Anniversary with Vision
In 2025, the German Christmas Museum celebrates its 25th anniversary – a proud milestone that celebrates the past while also looking to the future. New digital formats, multilingual exhibition elements and expanded educational programmes for families, school groups and international visitors are all in the pipeline. After all, Christmas knows no language barriers – and the museum wants to place this unifying spirit even more firmly at its heart. In this way, Rothenburg remains not only Germany's Christmas town, but also a centre for living tradition and the open-minded celebration and sharing of festive culture.
"We preserve tradition – and, in a way, we've already become a part of it ourselves"
Harald Wohlfahrt, company owner
Son of Wilhelm and Käthe Wohlfahrt