The Canandaigua Christkindl Pyramid

A 13 foot German Pyramid, which symbolizes the light and joy of the holiday season, will grace the south lawn of the Granger Homestead welcoming guests to the annual Canandaigua Christkindl Market.

Pyramids were actually a 7th century Persian invention and showed up in Germany around the 6th century. The German pyramids have been a Christmas tradition for over three centuries and the tradition has spread throughout Europe and America. They have their origin in the mountain region of northeast Germany. During the cold and brutal winter months, the villages of the area were completely cut off from the rest of the world. To keep busy the families worked on traditional arts and crafts which are today sold throughout the world.

Most German pyramids tell a story, particularly ones with multiple tiers. The stories are told from the bottom to the top of the pyramid and each tier represents a different aspect of the story. Some of the most common stories are religious in nature, traditional German life, animal and wildlife, and other popular holiday themes.

The largest known outdoor pyramid is 45 feet tall and stands in the Christkindl Market in Dresden, Germany. The Canandaigua Christkindl Market Pyramid stands 13 feet tall and has two tiers. It was designed by Milan Kutner of Canandaigua who only had a few pictures to aid him in the monumental project. The bottom tier is a Christmas tree, the second tier an angel and the fan on top represents the spread of joy - "Angelic Praise."