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A Moravian star (German: Herrnhuter Stern) is an illuminated decoration used during the Christian liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany representing the Star of Bethlehem pointing towards the infant Jesus.[1] The Moravian Church teaches:[2]
...the star reminds us of God, who caused the light to shine out of darkness and of the light which is the life of humanity. It reminds us of the promise of Abraham that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars; we are reminded of the star that pointed to the “great and heavenly light from Bethlehem’s manger shining bright.” The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. This is the message of the Advent star, which also points to Jesus, who said, “I am the bright and Morning Star.” It is the star of promise, the star of fulfillment, and the star of hope.[2]
The Moravian star is popular in places where there are Moravian Christian congregations world wide The stars take their English name from the Moravian Church, originating in Moravia. In Germany, they are known as Herrnhut stars, named after the Moravian Mother Community in Saxony, Germany, where they were first commercially produced. With the rise of ecumenism, the use the Moravian star has spread beyond the Moravian Church to other Christian denominations, such as the Lutheran Church and Catholic Church, as well as the Methodist Church.
- ^ Perry, Marta (4 December 2018). Naomi's Christmas. Penguin. p. 269. ISBN 978-0-451-49159-6.
- ^ a b "The Moravian Star". Moravian Church. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2024.