How To Incorporate A Christmas Nutcracker In Holiday Decorating

Two words that seem to go well together are Christmas and nutcracker. However, they have not always been synonymous. The exact origin of the nutcracker goes back almost 8,000 years. Christmas Nutcracker Place Guard SoldierThey have evolved over time from very rudimentary to now being very elaborate, and some are quite expensive. The ones that we relate to now are a far cry from where they came from in both appearance and function. Now, a Christmas nutcracker is more decorative than used for their actual intended purpose.

As one might assume, there are tales as to how the nutcracker came to be. One such fable takes us to the mountains in Germany where a young boy lived with his parents. They were very isolated in the mountains, and as the boy’s father would rise early to work in the mines, the boy would be frightened by the darkness still around him. So, to ease his young son’s fears, the father whittled wooden soldiers to ward off or bite any harm that might come to the boy in his father’s absence. This collection grew as the father could see how it was helping his son. As this young man grew up to be a father himself, he passed his soldiers on to his own son, and thus leads us to our Christmas nutcracker of today.

The decorations that many Americans collect today started back in Germany in the early 1800s. They were made as soldiers or kings and even made an appearance in one of the Brothers Grimm novels in 1830. Germany is still one of the largest manufacturers of these holiday ornaments today.

Most people who have a Christmas nutcracker collection do so for display and not function. The pieces have become more elaborate, and the sizes vary. They come in miniature sizes up to larger-than-life sizes. They can be a traditional soldier, Native American, a king, prince, fisherman, cowboy, drummer, puppet ornament with moveable arms and legs, gingerbread man, winemaker, even Santa, and a number of others. They are not all created out of wood either. Some are glass, while others use a variety of materials from plaster to porcelain.

Each year during the holiday season, a local theater will likely play the Nutcracker Ballet. This yearly tradition continues to help drive the popularity of these Christmas decorations. Manufacturers have also produced the primary cast of characters in this form, like the Mouse King, Soldier, and Cavalier. Some families have taken to collecting one new character each year.

With many people having a Christmas nutcracker collection, what are some ways to incorporate them into holiday decorating?

Some people use them on their mantles or placed on either side of the hearth with a garland of some kind, and lights or candles. If there are varying heights, then using three or five on a table as a centerpiece amongst some greenery would look lovely. If the house is a two story and the stairs are in a visible part of the home, staggering them on the side of the stairs would make for a dramatic display paired with lighted garland along the railing. However they are displayed, these holiday decoration are a favorite of families worldwide.



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