The Räuchermann erzgebirgisch

Erzgebirgisch

Erzgebirgisch is an Upper German dialect, probably belonging to the Franconian dialect group, spoken mainly in the central Erzgebirge . It has received relatively little academic attention...

 Raachermannel is an "incense smoker", the invention of toy makers in the Ore Mountains

Ore Mountains

The Ore Mountains in Central Europe have formed a natural border between Saxony and Bohemia for many centuries. Today, the border between Germany and the Czech Republic runs just north of the main crest of the mountain range...

 and used to burn down cone incense

Incense

Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...

, known as Räucherkerzchen

Räucherkerzchen

Räucherkerzchen or Räucherkegel are incense candles burned at Christmas time in Germany in order to create pleasant scents around the house. But they were invented in India. Other countries reverse engineered it and started selling in their respective countries...

.

The Räuchermann was first mentioned in 1830 and is nowadays a common component in the Ore Mountain Christmas tradition

Weihnachten

Weihnachten is the German observance of what is commonly known in English as Christmas Day. - Preparations :In preparation for Weihnachten , many German families celebrate Advent. This is a time of religious preparation for the arrival of das Christkind...

. For this, a cone incense is set on first, then put on the lower part of the bifid wood figurine. The upper part is hollowed out and put on top of the first part. The cone incense burns down inside of the hollow figurine, the smoke leaving the mouth hole of the Räuchermann.
Before the Räuchermann was invented, cone incense was displayed and burnt down in the open.

During Christmas time, Räuchermänner are displayed together with Schwibbogen

Schwibbogen

A Schwibbogen is a decorative candle-holder from the Ore Mountains region of Saxony, Germany.The first metal Schwibbogen was made in 1740 in Johanngeorgenstadt. The early candle arches always consisted of black ore. They were made out of one single forged piece and could be painted. The number of...

candle arches, miner figurines

Miner

A miner is a person whose work or business is to extract ore or minerals from the earth. Mining is one of the most dangerous trades in the world. In some countries miners lack social guarantees and in case of injury may be left to cope without assistance....

, angels and Christmas pyramids.

Several kinds of figurines exist, traditionally displaying craftsmen

Artisan

An artisan is a skilled manual worker who makes items that may be functional or strictly decorative, including furniture, clothing, jewellery, household items, and tools...

 of the region, such as forester

Forester

250px|thumb|right|Foresters of [[Southern University of Chile|UACh]] in the [[Valdivian forest]]s of San Pablo de Tregua, ChileA forester is a person who practices forestry, the science, art, and profession of managing forests. Foresters engage in a broad range of activities including timber...

s, peddlers, miners, and soldiers. Today, they exist in many more forms, including the so-called edgesitters, which can be placed on the edge of the table, small sceneries of several Räuchermänner (such as a group playing Skat

Skat

Skat is an early 19th century trick-taking card game devised in Germany. Along with Doppelkopf it is the most popular card game in Germany and Silesia.Skat features prominently in Günter Grass's novel The Tin Drum and leads a trail connecting the plot...

), and also female Räuchermänner, called Räucherfrauen.
According to the Guinness Book of Records, the largest Räuchermann in the world is in the Miniaturenpark Kleinwelka in Bautzen

Bautzen

Bautzen is a hill-top town in eastern Saxony, Germany, and administrative centre of the eponymous district. It is located on the Spree River. As of 2008, its population is 41,161...

.

Moosmännel

As analogy to the Räuchermann, the upper Vogtland

Vogtland

The term Vogtland refers to a region reaching across the German free states of Bavaria, Saxony and Thuringia and into the Czech Republic . The name of the region contains a reference to the former leadership by the Vögte of Weida, Gera and Plauen, which translates approximately to advocates or lord...

 invented the Moosmann (or Moosmännel). He is supposed to be a small forest

Forest

A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...

 spirit

Spirit

The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...

, who helps poor families with natural products, could change leaves to gold, and - according to folk tales mostly appears during Christmas time.

See also

• Wooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains
  Wooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains
  The history of wooden toymaking in the Ore Mountains is closely bound to regional circumstances. The Ore Mountains was for many centuries a countryside in which the local population eked out a hard existence from the land. Long and harsh winters restricted agriculture; in addition the region had...
  
  
• Incense
  Incense
  Incense is composed of aromatic biotic materials, which release fragrant smoke when burned. The term "incense" refers to the substance itself, rather than to the odor that it produces. It is used in religious ceremonies, ritual purification, aromatherapy, meditation, for creating a mood, and for...