Vancouver, B.C. August 18, 2017
Herrnhut, which means “under the Lord’s protection”, was founded at the beginning of the 18th Century by the forefathers of the Moravian Church who were forced to flee their homeland of Bohemia and Moravia. With a group of young men and women forming a separate community in Moravia (now the Czech Republic), the church began. Living as closely as possible to the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount the Ancient Unity was founded in 1457.1. Lovefeast
One of the traditions that can still be found is the Lovefeast, which originated in the first gathering of Christians after Pentecost. There is biblical evidence for the practice of these communal meals, thereby signifying their union and equality. The Lovefeast is associated with the Lord’s Supper and based on the Agape feast. It was resuscitated in its original simplicity by the Moravian Church in 1727 and has been a service to dedicate to Christian love since, by talking over great spiritual blessings, praying together, having religious conversations and singing hymns together. The food and drink consumed during the religious worship assembly may vary. All in all, it is there to strengthen the bonds and the goodwill.
2. Advent
The Season of Advent includes all four Sundays before Christmas and focuses on the expectation and celebration of Christ’s Birth. In that time, an Advent wreath decorates the room. Most families from the Moravian church volunteer to make the Advent wreath, which is mostly a circle of green with four beeswax candles representing each of the four Sundays. On the first Sunday, there will be one candle lit on the Advent wreath by a child of the congregation, then two, then three and then on the fourth Sunday all four candles will be lit. The Christian custom probably dates back to the Middle Ages.
3. Herrnhuter Star
The Herrnhuter Star (known as the Moravian star) was first created by a teacher of a Moravian School in Niesky, Germany. He took the star to explain Geometry, as it has 17 quadrangular and 8 triangular points — the mathematical vocabulary for it is rhombicuboctahedron.
It was soon adopted by the Moravian Church to represent the Star of Bethlehem. Pieter Verbeek, one of the graduates of the Moravian School opened a bookstore in 1880 and used the Star to decorate his little store. Soon after that, his son expanded the bookstore into a factory and began selling the Herrnhut Star all over the world. His factory was destroyed by the Soviet Army in World War 2. After the war was finished, the East German government took over the factory, until it was later turned over to the Moravian Church. Today, it is run by the Herrnhuter Sterne GmbH, an economic undertaking of the Moravian Church and has distributors all over the world. One of them being MyBrilliantStar.
Our beautiful Herrnhut Stars make a simple but special Christmas decoration. They come in a multitude of sizes and colours. Buy your Herrnhut Star now, and use them as pendant lights in your home.
Herrnhut star, the Moravian original.
www.mybrilliantstar.com
The Vancouver Christmas Market is finally back! Downtown Vancouver’s beloved holiday tradition returns for the 11th time from Nov 13 - Dec 24 to Jack Poole Plaza. One week earlier than usual, for less crowding and even more chances for everyone to attend. For many residents and visitors alike, a yearly stop over at the Vancouver Christmas Market has become a seasonal ritual. Also, a large number of vendors have been loyal to the market for many years.
Herrnhuter Stars: More than 600,000 are Made by Hand Every Year. It’s available very small for the windowsill and as tall as a man for churches and other public buildings and events: the Herrnhut Star also known as Moravian Star. We usually visit the German manufactory once a year and put together some interesting facts for you. We will also offer some exciting insights and intriguing facts about Christmas Markets all over the world.
