Käthe Wohlfahrt
A Christmas Story of Love and Passion
A Gift That Connects Hearts
The story of Käthe Wohlfahrt begins with a deeply human moment: a lovingly chosen Christmas gift – a music box from the Erzgebirge – enchanted not only an American family they were friends with in the 1960s, but also Käthe and Wilhelm Wohlfahrt themselves. The couple had arrived in West Germany in 1956 after fleeing the Vogtland region – shaped by hardship, yet sustained by a deep longing for home, tradition and the cherished customs of an Erzgebirge Christmas. The idea of sharing that feeling with others became their driving force. And so, in 1964, this personal impulse gave rise to the company "Käthe Wohlfahrt – fine wooden toys and gifts". Käthe became its namesake – an act of love, and at the same time a practical decision, since Wilhelm was not permitted to be self-employed in his profession.
A Bold Step Into the Heart of Romance
Company founder Wilhelm Wohlfahrt (left in the photo) in conversation with customers at Käthe Wohlfahrt's first official sales stand – the "Officer's Club Bazaar" of the US armed forces in Stuttgart-Vaihingen. This early contact with American customers laid the foundation for the company's international outlook and growing worldwide interest in German Christmas traditions.
What began as a small side business in the basement of their house in Herrenberg, Baden-Württemberg, grew rapidly: music boxes, nutcrackers, wooden figures – the range grew, and so did the number of customers. In 1977, the Wohlfahrts made the forward-looking decision to move to Rothenburg ob der Tauber. The town's medieval setting offered not only a fitting backdrop, but became the stage for the vision of a year-round Christmas store. Despite initial scepticism, the Wohlfahrts dared to open the "Christkindlmarkt" – and just a few years later, the famous Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village) followed. In the splendid Herrngasse, a place emerged where the magic of Christmas can be felt all year round. Through their enthusiasm and courage, the company became an ambassador for German Christmas traditions – far beyond the country's borders.
A Family Business with Heart and Responsibility
Today, Käthe Wohlfahrt is an internationally renowned company with customers all over the world, more than 20,000 lovingly curated products, its own collections and a strong commitment to traditional craftsmanship. To this day, the business remains family-owned – now in its third generation – and sees itself as a guardian of intangible cultural heritage. The story of the Wohlfahrt family is one of love of home, a commitment to quality and an unwavering determination to bring joy to others. In every store, at every Christmas market stand and in every parcel, a piece of that original idea lives on: to pass on things chosen with heart – and to keep the magic of Christmas alive.
Wilhelm and Käthe Wohlfahrt
in the Weihnachtsdorf (Christmas Village)