Walk through downtown Lititz in December and you will see stars everywhere. They hang in shop windows, over doorways, inside office lobbies and on front porches. Some are tiny enough to fit in the palm of a hand. Others are several feet across and glow from within.
These are Moravian stars, and in Lititz they are more than decoration. They are a link to the people who founded the town.
A star with a history
The Moravian star traces back to the Moravian Church, a Protestant denomination with roots in central Europe. In the 1800s, the star was used as a geometry lesson at a Moravian boys’ school in Niesky, Germany. Students assembled the shapes from paper and glue, learning about polyhedrons along the way. Over time, the star became associated with Advent and Christmas, and Moravian congregations around the world adopted it as a seasonal symbol.
The most familiar version has 26 points, but stars with 110 points and other variations are also made. Lighted stars, usually hung from a porch ceiling or in a window, became common in the 20th century.
Lititz itself was founded as a Moravian community in the mid-1700s. For about a century, only members of the church could own property there. Lititz Moravian Church still anchors the town square area, and Moravian traditions, from candlelight services to the stars, remain part of local life.
Stars in the shops
In December 2014, LititzDailyNews.com set out to photograph stars around town. The idea was simple: show readers how many forms the star takes, from the tiniest to the tallest.
One of the smallest examples turned up at Days Gone By on East Main Street. The shop sold handmade stars dipped in beeswax, crafted by a woman who had grown up making them with her family. The ornaments were small, warm in color and lightly scented.
At the other end of the scale, a large star hung inside the Lititz Mutual Insurance building, a long-standing local company. Its size made it a landmark for anyone stepping inside during the season.
Calkins’ Vine and the Branches on North Broad Street, a gift shop, displayed many stars of different sizes and finishes. The owner shared a photo of one of her favorites for the collection.
Other businesses joined in, hanging stars in windows and entryways. Taken together, the photos showed how a single shape could look rustic, elegant or modern depending on its material and setting.
Reader stars
The photo feature also invited readers to share their own. Many Lititz families own stars that have been handed down for generations, and some come with stories: a star bought on a honeymoon, one that hung in a grandparent’s porch for decades, or one assembled by hand from paper points.
Those personal stars say as much about the town as the ones in shop windows. They show how a church symbol became a community symbol, shared by residents whether or not they attend a Moravian congregation.
Buying and hanging a star
Today, Moravian stars are sold at gift shops in Lititz and across Lancaster County, as well as through Moravian church bookstores and online retailers. Paper kits let crafters assemble their own. Plastic and glass versions are sturdier for outdoor use, and many come wired for lighting.
Traditionally, a star goes up on the first Sunday of Advent and comes down after Epiphany in early January. Many households keep that timing; others simply hang the star with the rest of their holiday decorations.
A town of stars
For visitors, the stars are part of what makes a December trip to Lititz feel distinct. For residents, they are a familiar sign that the season has arrived. Whether tiny and beeswax-dipped or large and glowing above a doorway, each one is a small reminder of how Lititz began, and how its oldest traditions are still visible on its main streets.