The Christmas tree ball was invented in the Thuringian Forest: glass Christmas decorations have been made here for more than 170 years. After more than two years of Corona, one is optimistic despite new concerns.
Erfurt/Lauscha (dpa/th) – The first Christmas tree ball deliveries for Christmas 2022 are on their way from the Thuringian Forest to shops in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Overall, business was better this year than in previous Corona years, said Roger Müller from Krebs Glas Lauscha, one of around 100 glass companies in southern Thuringia. Traditional Christmas baubles in the all-time favorite colors of red, gold and silver, as well as many other colors and shapes, are mouth-blown, hand-decorated and made here all year round.
According to Müller, 25 percent more deliveries are possible this year than in the previous year – “and even on time”. In 2021, orders of a similar magnitude were received. However, due to disrupted supply chains and a lack of material, the company was in arrears in 2021 and production was sometimes completely canceled. “The warehouses were then pretty empty. We’ve actually never had them that empty before,” said Managing Director Michael Krebs. This year, however, the inventory is good.
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. 7000 people in the region depend directly or indirectly on glass.
But glass needs gas: So far, the glass companies in southern Thuringia have been able to compensate for the gas shortage and the associated price increases thanks to the good order situation, says Ralf Pieterwas, general manager of the southern Thuringia Chamber of Commerce and Industry. However, both the workforce and the management in the region are unsettled with regard to further price increases and possible gas stops. At Krebs Glas, however, they are particularly happy that production in the Ukraine has not yet had to be stopped. “People need a normal working life and income,” said Krebs.
