Christmas pigs with ribbon | Papercraft

Three little Christmas pigs arrive in a row - decorated with fine red bows and ready to take their place on the Christmas table.

The pig has a surprisingly long history as a symbol of luck and abundance, and at Christmas time, we still encounter it as Christmas decorations, marzipan pigs, and the coveted prize for whoever finds the almond in the rice pudding.

This charming paper cutout takes the classic Christmas pig and turns it into a little decoration that can be brought out year after year.

Let the Christmas pigs move in

Cut out the three little pigs and place them on a shelf, on the windowsill, or among your other Christmas decorations.

They are also perfect for the Christmas table. Use them as decorations among pine branches and candles, or let the children cut them out while they wait for Christmas dinner.

The paper cutout can also make for a lovely little hostess gift - or perhaps accompany the traditional marzipan pig if you are in charge of this year's "almond gift".

Hand-painted Danish paper cutout

The paper cutout is designed by Tall Hat Tales and has a charming, hand-painted look, where the small pigs and their bows give the motif plenty of personality.

The Christmas pig is an old motif in Nordic and Central European Christmas traditions and is found in many different forms - from straw pigs and ornaments to the sweet marzipan pig.

But why is it actually a pig?

Why does the pig bring luck?

For centuries, the pig has been associated with prosperity, fertility, and abundance. Owning pigs meant access to valuable meat and fat and could be a sign that the household had resources to spare. In Central Europe, the pig therefore also developed into an actual symbol of luck.

This still lives on in the German expression Schwein haben - literally "to have a pig," but used to mean being lucky. Therefore, you still find small pigs as lucky charms in countries like Germany and Austria, especially around Christmas and New Year.

From lucky charm to marzipan pig

Marzipan used to be a costly treat made of almonds and sugar, and far from something eaten on a daily basis. At some point, the two symbols were united: the precious marzipan and the pig as a sign of luck and prosperity. The marzipan pig became a popular sweet gift and lucky charm in the German-speaking parts of Europe and later spread to Scandinavia. In Denmark, it has gained a very special place on the Christmas table because, for many families, the marzipan pig has become the classic "almond gift."

The coveted almond

When the rice pudding (risalamande) is served on Christmas Eve, a very special Danish hunt begins.

A whole almond is hidden in the dessert, and whoever finds it wins the almond gift. In many families, the prize is a marzipan pig, even though the almond gift has also been many other things over time. And then, of course, there is the old Christmas table tactic: if you find the almond early, you can discreetly hide it in your cheek and let the rest of the party continue eating in suspense.

The three little paper pigs thus bring together several Christmas traditions - the pig as an ancient symbol of luck, the sweet marzipan pig, and our own hunt for the almond in the rice pudding.

Product information

• Unique Danish design
• Motif with Christmas pigs with bows
• Printed on sturdy 300-gram paper
• A5 format
• Printed on both sides
• Figures are to be cut out yourself
• Suitable as Christmas decorations, hanging ornaments, table decorations, and place cards
• The motifs are hand-painted, and the front and back may therefore vary slightly

Missing the tools?

For the fine details of papercraft, we recommend a sharp hobby knife and a good cutting mat. You can purchase our cutting set for papercraft and paper cutting, which includes an NT-Cutter precision knife with 10 blades as well as a Linex cutting mat.