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 Christmas nut cracker: Nutcrackers are tools that have been around for centuries, but perhaps it was the famous story and ballet that originated in 1892 that breathed new life into them. It may well be that a story about a little girl named Clara (shown) and her smiling soldier doll that was given to her as a gift might well have been the very thing that made them such a family tradition. This story is performed on stage as a ballet and is televised in many forms, from movies to cartoons. It has been, throughout the years, presented only during the holidays. Maybe this is the reason that we associate the simple mechanism, turned elegant art piece with our Christmas decorations.
While you can buy them any time throughout the year, there seems to be an ample offering of them during this festive winter season. They have been used for centuries, yet in modern times, nearly the only association we have with the ornate kind is as a Christmas nut cracker. You rarely spy one of these whimsical pieces any other time of the year, unless of course you are a collector, or know a collector.
Each year manufacturers seem to find new ways to introduce the centuries old Christmas nut cracker to catch the eye of the increasingly harder to please consumer. This explains why the many artisans continue to transform them into many different characters, including Uncle Sam, celebrities, and military nutcrackers. However, the wildly popular form this age old mechanism still emulates is the smiling soldier. The uniform may vary from region to region and country to country, but the primary theme seems to stay the same with reference to men in military attire. It may well be that since each country holds great esteem for their military leaders and soldiers, that this is the predominant reason for it to be dressed in this fashion.
A Christmas nut cracker seems to embody the spirit of the season, and captivate the young and old alike, throughout every generation. There seems to be an almost magical element surrounding them as they regally preside over the holiday celebrations, as if it truly were a soldier guarding its assigned post. You will see them adorned as part of a department store’s decorum which may also include Santa Claus and his sleigh. This pairing, while seemingly having little to do with each other, just comes together as one seamless element in the season and celebration. As the child approaches Santa Claus to deliver their deepest wishes to him, they often will pass between two of these giant soldiers, often used as outdoor Christmas decorations, following the ever faithful elf to sit on the mystical man's lap. To many children all around the globe, holiday memories and family traditions will be taken with them into adulthood. Many will have included the much loved soldiers as part of a time remembered, and will pass this tradition on to their new families.
So, whether you are a collector or have grown up with them as part of your family tradition, enjoy them. They are rich with history. We may never know why the holidays are the predominant venue to honor them as a display piece, but we know that they will forever be a tradition rich with memories. We can count on seeing that benevolent Christmas nut cracker, whether we use them to crack nuts or ejoy them as Christmas nutcracker decorations or hang wooden nutcracker ornaments on the tree each and every season.
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