Our Palace Guard Nutcracker
are 14 inches all and it standing on a red round base with gold trim. These Wooden Nutcrackers Soldiers jacket is glittery red with gold horizontal lines with green jewels in gold settings. His jacket has gold cuffs, navy blue collar and his epaulets are navy blue with gold looped fringe. The nutcracker soldiers pants are white and his belt and boots are black. This Wooden Nutcrackers Soldiers hat is a glittery red kepi style hat with a gold snowflake, gold chain hanging down and a black brim. He has a black and gold scimitar at his waist. Select to see a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.
The Story of The Nutcracker
The combination of a useful tool and a figural form with a human appearance was well accepted by the mid 18th century. In the toy making center of Sonneberg, in the Thuringian Forest, there was mention in 1735 of nut biters that operated according to the principles of leverage. These nut biters were described as sturdy, energetic forms with large heads. Two moving arms on the back of the head allowed the lower jaw to push the nut against the upper jaw. In a carnival parade in 1783, students from Freisingen, Germany presented large models of Berchtesgaden wares, including a nut biter in the form of a little man whose mouth and stomach were one and the same. Select this link to view our Christmas Nutcrackers Village People.
How Nutcrackers Came to America.
Nutcrackers have always been enjoyed for their whimsical expressions, authentic costumes, and enigmatic charm. However, nutcrackers also possess a rich history that goes back about 300 years. Nutcrackers carry with them a sense of tradition as well as an abundance of stories and legends of the past. Although nutcrackers have been around forages, they were not always the collectible items as we know them today. In fact, nutcrackers only became popular in the United States about 50 years ago. Select this link to view our Large Nutcrackers.
The practice of collecting nutcrackers in the United States began in the early 1950s. Many of the GIs who were in Germany during World War II visited open air fairs or markets in Germany. It was there that they discovered a sturdy and intriguing companion in the nutcracker. When the soldiers returned home after the war, a new comrade accompanied them. Strengthened by the nutcrackers ability to ward off evil from its owners, the soldiers brought a figure of power and protection to their families and loved ones. And so, the nutcrackers with their rich heritage had arrived in the United States, and were here to stay. Check out all our Nutcracker Ornaments for the holidays.
The Christmas Star.
The star symbolizes the star that appeared, quite miraculously, in the eastern sky at the birth of Jesus. The star is believed to have guided shepherds and the magi to the newborn babe.
The Christmas star or star of Bethlehem continues to decorate churches and houses as part of traditional Christmas celebrations. Select this link to view our Christmas Ornament Sets.
