The Froebel star

Christmas craft with a long tradition

Whether cinnamon stars, poinsettias or Herrnhut stars ... Without them, Christmas season just doesn’t feel right. One of the most famous stars is the Froebel star. It decorates windows, arrangements and Christmas trees. Ever tried making one yourself?

The origin of the Froebel star is not 100% clear and was often assumed to be in Scandinavia. However, the Froebel Star owes its name to the German pedagogue and founder of the kindergarten Friedrich Wilhelm Froebel. The children were supposed to, for example, develop their fine motor skills by folding as well as experience creating something themselves . This included crafting things with paper, like these stars. Folding the paper thought takes patience and skill until the strips transform into the famous star. Want to try it yourself?

Folding guide for Froebel stars ...

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DIY manual for Froebel stars

A German Christmas Tradition from Thuringia

Step by step explanations make it really easy to relive this German Christmas tradition by yourself. Just have a try! (Manual with German texts)

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Our excursion tips

Friedrich Froebel's life and work are closely connected with the Schwarza valley. Here you will experience an impressive density of authentic places where the pedagogue lived and worked. In addition, the spirit of Fröbel is reflected in various experience areas of the region.

Froebel Forest in Lichtenhain

At the mountain station of the Thuringian mountain railroad in Lichtenhain is the forest adventure trail Fröbelwald. The 900 meter long path is named after the pedagogue and founder of kindergartens and conveys information about the forest and the history of the Schwarzatal in a playful and educational way with various stations. The Froebel Forest touches all the senses, for example, the child's instinct for play and discovery is consciously used.

Fröbel tower in Oberweißbach

The Fröbel Tower is an observation tower and also the landmark of Oberweißbach. It was built in 1890 in memory of Friedrich Fröbel and is now protected as a cultural monument. The tower offers a magnificent panoramic view over the Thuringian low mountain range. Right next to it is a children's adventure trail, a playground and a restaurant.

Froebel Museum in Bad Blankenburg

In 1839, the kindergarten was born in the building of today's museum, because it was here that Froebel began to practice his program for early childhood education and upbringing. The Friedrich Fröbel Museum is an authentic place and presents with the exhibition Fröbel's life, his pedagogical program and the history of the impact of his pedagogy with original exhibits.

Memorial Museum "Friedrich Froebel

The museum "Friedrich Fröbel" is located in the house where Fröbel was born. The exhibition presents the life and work of the great preschool educator and invites visitors to marvel and play with all kinds of play gifts, folding, braiding and threading techniques, as well as with the wooden building blocks and laying boards. On the first floor there is also the tourist information and a store with Fröbel's play gifts, traditional olives and much more.

Friedrich Froebel" circular hiking trail in Bad Blankenburg

The cultural-historical hiking trail connects the places where Friedrich Fröbel worked. The landscape is characterized by the shell limestone slopes on the northern edge of the Thuringian Forest and offers special vegetation as well as views to the heights of the Thuringian Forest and into the Thuringian Slate Mountains. One of these viewpoints is known as Fröbelblick. On the way, several boards inform about the life and work of Fröbel.

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