This Wooden Candle Pyramid is about 7½ inches tall and 6¼ inches wide. A Wooden Candle Pyramid is a kind of Carousel with one or more levels. This is a single level pyamid with two tiers in the center depicting a ski scene. There is a decorative arch over the ski scene. There are four three inch red candles, one at each outer corner of the pyramid When lit the heat from the candles turns a set of wooden propeller blades set above the arch. The propeller is held in place by a metal rod that goes down through the center of the snow scene. When the propeller blades turn it turns the rod which also spins the two tier snow scene. Select this link to view our Christmas Nutcrackers Village People.
Candle Pyramids.
Christmas pyramids date back to the Middle Ages where it was traditional in southern and western Europe to bring evergreen boughs into the home and hang them, in order to ward off moroseness in the dark and cold winter months. In northern and eastern Europe traditional candles were used in place of evergreen boughs. The Christmas pyramid unified these two traditions and became a symbol of Christmas celebrations. The forefather to the pyramid was a construction known as a "Lichtergestellte" which was very popular in the 18th Century. They were constructions made of four poles, decorated with evergreen boughs, tied together at the top and lit with candles. The Christmas tree gradually replaced the Lichtergestellte.
A candle pyramid is a Christmas decoration that has its roots in the Ore Mountains of Germany.
It is a kind of Carousel with several levels. Some depict Christian motifs, such as angels or manger scenes and others with more secular motifs such as mountain folk, forests and other scenes from the everday life of people in the Ore Mountains. The scenes within the pyramids take various forms from intricately carved miniature houses with pitched roofs, to large multilevel structures that serve as displays for the carved figures.
Candle pyramids are made of wood and based on four to eight sided platforms with a long pole in the middle serving as the axle to which the entire apparatus tapers above and which supports any further platforms. Inside in a glass or ceramic support is a drive shaft on to which at least one platform is attached
The spinning motion of the pyramids is achieved with the help of candles whose rising heat spins a propeller above.
Candle pyramids serve a mainly decorative purpose today, filling children and adults alike with holiday cheer.