This Velvet skirt is 56 inches in diameter and is made from cotton velvet. The body of the skirt is luxurious Red velvet with a border of medium forest green velvet. The skirt opens up to show three Nutcracker Guards exquisitely created with different colored beads, sequins, felt, braid and pompoms. The background around them is decorated with gold bugle bead stars and round gold beads. The underside of the skirt is lined with red, polyester lining fabric. The center slit closes with Velcro fasteners. This skirt comes on a very nice metal hanger for easy storage. Select this link to view our Christmas Tree Skirt.
The Nutcracker.
The Nutcracker story was written in 1816 by the German writer E.T.A. Hoffmann. It was a rather grim tale of an unhappy girl named Marie whose only love is a nutcracker doll. In 1845 the famed French novelist Alexandre Dumas, who made it more suitable for children, adapted the story. In 1891 this version was chosen as the basis of the Russian ballet scored by Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreographed by Marius Petitpa and Lev Ivanov. Select this link to view our Christmas Stockings.
The Nutcracker Suite opened in St. Petersburg on December 17, 1892. The original production was not a success. Though popular in Russia,it was never staged outside of that country until 1934, when a setting appeared in London. Since then numerous versions of the dance, long and short, have been attempted, with the most successful being that by George Balanchine in 1954. It is probably the world’s favorite ballet, being seen by millions each year,
during the Christmas season. Select this link to view our Christmas Stocking Holders.
The ballet’s popularity has stimulated an interest in the collection of nutcrackers. Though many types of metal and wood nutcrackers were made through the centuries, the commercial production of the popular wooden toy nutcracker dates only from the 1870’s in Germany. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum in Washington State exhibits over 3,000 of these implements from around the world. Select this link to view our Wooden Nutcracker Soldiers.
History of the Advent Wreath.
The wreath is an ancient symbol of victory and the greenery represents everlasting life.
The Advent wreath was usually constructed of pine boughs, to which candles are attached. The Advent wreath was invented by the reforming Lutheran pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern. In Hamburg, in 1833, Wichern opened a Rauhe Haus, or ‘Rough House’, the house sheltered orphaned and neglected children. To make the Christmas story have more meaning for the children, every night of Advent, he would tell the children stories, pray with them and light a candle in the wreath. To accommodate the candles a wheel shaped chandelier was built and evergreens were twined around it. Visitors and supporters of the House were impressed by the display and the custom soon spread. Those who imitated it reduced it in size to four candles, one for each week of Advent. Many churches and homes mark the progress of advent by lighting one additional candle a week until on the final Sunday all four are lit. Select this link to view our Fiber Optic Angel Tree Topper.