The thermometer shows values around 30 degrees, but in some places people are already thinking about the party. Stollen are baked and poinsettias grown. And how do the fir trees thrive in the drought?
Olbernhau/Lauscha/Selke-Aue – Midsummer makes thoughts of Christmas in five months far away. But at companies in the Ore Mountains, for example, preparations for the festival have long been underway.
This is routine for their employees, even at high temperatures. For example, Christmas decorations and Christmas stollen are already on their way to distant countries so that everything is there in time.
handicrafts
Even in summer, the artisans in the Ore Mountains turn their lathes, sawing, gluing and decorating. “Christmas is here all year round,” says the head of the association, Frederic Günther. Incense smokers, angels and candle arches are not only offered in specialist shops and on the Internet all year round. The packages also have to be prepared for export so that everything arrives on time. They mainly go to the USA and Japan.
However, production is also already being carried out for the Christmas business in this country. The manufacturers hope that after the corona turmoil this year, everyone will be strolling through Christmas markets again.
Christmas baubles
Glassblowers in the Thuringian Forest also have Christmas in their sights. The Christmas tree ball was invented in Lauscha: glass Christmas decorations have been made here for more than 170 years. The production has been part of the intangible cultural heritage since 2021. At any time of the year, Krebs Glas, one of around 100 South Thuringian glass companies, mouth-blown, hand-decorated and -manufactured baubles in the popular colors red, gold and silver, but also other colors.
Working with the hissing jet of fire and the glass bulbs is not only a challenge in summer. “The glassblowers sweat, it’s unavoidable,” says manager Roger Müller. On the other hand, only “drink a lot” can help.
Christmasstars
For many people, the potted plants, most of which glow red, are part of the festival: large numbers of poinsettias are already available in greenhouses – albeit in small format. The cuttings usually come to Europe from Africa by plane, as Markus Gläser says. He is the managing director of the Fontana horticultural business in the Küstriner Vorland, one of several Brandenburg businesses that, according to statistics, produced around 140,000 poinsettias last year.
The new plants are only five centimeters tall. They develop their color towards the end of October. This Advent, however, potted plants are likely to become more expensive. Gläser cites higher material prices and increased energy costs as reasons.
Christmas trees
What would Christmas be without a decorated Christmas tree? The trees are already growing, of course. “There are beautifully grown Christmas trees this year,” says Christmas tree grower Hardi Busche in the Harz Mountains. Despite the drought, no major failures are expected.
The Nordmann fir has a vertical root that is just as long as the tree itself, explains Saskia Blümel, Managing Director of the Association of Natural Christmas Trees. Larger Nordmann firs would therefore have no problem getting water in deeper layers. This is more risky with newly planted trees.
Dresdner Stollen
The first Dresdner Christstollen are baked in midsummer. “We’ve been producing since May,” says plant manager Robert Schiehandl from the Dr. Quendt, which supplies the retail trade. The Christmas cookies will be delivered there at the end of August/beginning of September. “Until then, the stollen should be well drained and developed so that it’s nice and juicy.”
For most members, the season doesn’t start until September, says Andreas Wippler from the Dresdner Stollen Protection Association, who monitors the quality of the sweet delicacy with the seal of authenticity. The Dresdner Backhaus has already delivered to the USA, as managing director Tino Gierig reports. “The ship is on the road for four to five weeks.” dpa
