The origin of Christmas baubles in Moselle: Tradition, History and Creations 2025

Discover the origin of Christmas baubles: a Moselle tradition

Born in Moselle in 1858, glass Christmas baubles perpetuate a unique know-how. Every year, craftsmen reinvent this tradition with creations that combine heritage and modernity. Discover the history of Moselle Christmas baubles.

Fabrication d'une boule de noël


The 2025 Editions of Christmas Ornaments

Boule de Noël meisenthal 2025 Grip
Boule de Noël meisenthal 2025 Grip

Meisenthal

Better safe than sorry!
The Halle Verrière of Meisenthal unveils GRIP, the 2025 Christmas ornament designed by Lucas Lorigeon: a clever and poetic creation, imagined to prevent those dreaded “shattered bauble” moments.

With its ergonomic, non-slip protrusions, GRIP ensures a perfect hold — and might just save a few family Christmases!

True to its tradition, Meisenthal entrusts an artist each year with designing its annual ornament: “Piaf” by Harmonie Begon & les mésanges (2021), “Extra” by Nicolas Verschaeve (2022), “Stella” by Jean-Simon Roch (2023), “Kaktus” by Mark Braun (2024)… and now, “Grip” by Lucas Lorigeon (2025) enriches this iconic collection.

The Meisenthal Boutique

Boule L'étoile

Lehrer

For its 2025 Christmas collection, the crystal workshop presents L’Étoile, a new ornament that joins the series started with “Le Bonhomme en pain d’épices” (2021), “La Cloche” (2022), “Le Père Noël” (2023), and “Le Sapin” (2024).

Handcrafted in the workshops, each star is born from the expertise of master glassmakers. Molten glass, carefully blown and shaped, brings to life a luminous piece that captures and reflects light in a unique way.

Available in several colors, L’Étoile is designed to fit naturally into any Christmas tree décor. Its clean, sparkling design makes it both a collectible item and a symbol of the holiday season.
 

The Lehrer boutique

Practical Information

Lehrer Christmas Bauble

📍 QMOSL Chalet, Place de la République in Metz.

🗓️ Sales period: According to the official opening dates of the Qualité MOSL chalet.

More information (opening days and times):
chalet.mosl.fr

Meisenthal Christmas Bauble

📍 Small Chalet, next to the main Qualité MOSL chalet, Place de la République in Metz.

🗓️ Sales days:

  • Saturday, 22 November 2025
  • Saturday, 29 November 2025
  • Saturday, 6 December 2025

🎄 Sales conditions: Maximum 3 baubles per person, including only one red bauble, while stocks last.

CIAV 2023
CIAV 2023
CIAV 2023
CIAV 2023
CIAV 2023
Cristal Lehrer
Cristal Lehrer
CIAV 2023
CIAV 2023
CIAV 2023
Cristal Lehrer
CIAV ARTI
CIAV ARTI

Christmas baubles, a tradition born in Moselle

Do you know why we hang ornaments on the branches of Christmas trees?

The tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas dates back to the 11th century. Back then, red apples were hung on the branches, symbolizing the Tree of Paradise.

The first decorated Christmas trees, resembling our contemporary trees, emerged in the 15th century. In addition to apples, sweets and small cakes were added, a tradition that quickly took hold and lasted until 1858 when the fruit trees in Lorraine failed to produce any fruit due to a severe drought.
 

Cristal Lehrer

A glassblower from Goetzenbruck then had a brilliant idea: he began to blow red apples out of glass. Thus began the tradition of glass Christmas ornaments, created thanks to local craftsmanship. 

This innovation quickly gained popularity, and glass ornaments began to replace apples on the trees, marking a significant turning point in Christmas celebrations.

These Christmas ornaments, rooted in Lorrainian craftsmanship, continued to be produced in Goetzenbruck until 1964 when the glassworks ceased production, leaving this precious tradition forgotten.

Stella

Fortunately, in 1992, the International Center for Glass Art (CIAV) was established in the former glassworks of Meisenthal, reviving this local tradition. 

Each year, the CIAV invites an artist to design a new ornament, skillfully blending the rich Lorrainian heritage with contemporary aesthetics that appeal to collectors and lovers of unique items.

Since 2010, the Lehrer crystal factory has also continued the tradition of crystal craftsmanship, offering a collection of colorful, finely crafted crystal Christmas ornaments. Many shades are available, and each ornament is hand-blown for a truly unique result.
 


ciav-meisenthal.fr
cristallehrer.com

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