The Slender Drummer is 15 inch tall. He is wearing a black stove pipe style hat with gold brim, gold chain hanging in front and a black plume. His Jacket is dark blue and red with gold epaulettes, black belt and gold cuffs. His trousers are red with dark blue cuffs above his black boots. His gold, dark blue and red drum is attached to his waist and he is holding the gold drum sticks in his hands. Select this link to view our Wooden Nutcracker Soldiers.
Grenadier Soldiers.
The wide hats with broad brims characteristic of infantry during the late 17th century were discarded and replaced with caps. This was originally to allow the grenadier to sling his musket over his back with greater ease while throwing grenades (initially, only these troops were provided with slings). Additionally, a brimless hat permitted the grenadier greater ease in throwing the grenade overhand. By 1700, grenadiers in the English and other armies had adopted a cap in the shape of a bishop's mitre, usually decorated with the regimental insignia in embroidered cloth. In addition to grenades, they were equipped with contemporary longarms. The uniform included a belt tube that held the match for lighting the fuse; this feature was retained in later grenadier uniforms. Select this link to view our U.S. Marine Corps Soldier Nutcracker.
The Kurt Adler Nutcracker Fable.
Once upon a time, in the mountains of Germany, there lived a young boy with his mother and father. The boy’s father woke up very early every day and went to work in the mines. The little boy was scared to stay at home without his father, whom he loved very much. Select this link to view our Rifleman Wooden Nutcrackers.
So that his son would not be frightened, the father carved him a wooden nutcracker which had fierce eyes and teeth. He told the boy that he should not be afraid because he was safe from harm with the nutcracker there to protect him. The boy was still afraid, so every night, when the father came home from the mines, he worked on carving a new nutcracker for his son. He gave his son a different nutcracker….a guard, a painter, a clock maker, etc. These nutcrackers protected the boy and kept him company while his father was away. The boy always felt safe and when he was older and had a son of his own, he passed on the nutcrackers to him, so that he would always be protected from harm. And as the nutcrackers were passed on, the collection grew bigger and bigger as each generation added its own special touch. Select this link to view our Skiing Nutcrackers.
The Tradition of Birthdays.
Birthday is the name given to the anniversary of the day we were born. It is celebrated by a party with friends and family bringing gifts for the person who’s Birthday it is. It is also customary to treat people especially well on their Birthday. Select this link to view our Fisherman Nutcrackers.
Birthday Celebrations are not universal. Some people prefer name day celebrations instead. There are some who do not celebrate either because they consider the origin of such festivals as Birthdays, Christmas and Easter to be pagan. Then there are some of us who just don’t like to be reminded that we are getting older. Select this link to view our Slender Nutcracker with a Sword.