This Countdown to Christmas Santa Nutcrackers How Nutcrackers Came to America.
History of The Santa Claus Express.
is 14 inches tall and stands on a red and green stripped base with gold trim. Our Christmas Nutcracker Decorations are wearing a Santa suit and hat. His Santa hat is red velvet with white faux fur and a white pompom ball. This holiday nutcracker also has white faux fur lining the bottom of his coat, pants and cuffs. Black boots finish off Santa’s outfit. This Christmas Nutcrackers Village People is holding a wooden shelf with two cubes with numbers used as a countdown to Christmas calendar. The shelf is hunter green with white polka dots, the top is lined with deep red and the edge is hunter green and deep red stripped. On the front of this shelf has “Days ‘til Christmas” written in gold and a grey mouse wearing a red suit standing on the right hand side of the shelf. The first block is white outlined in hunter green and red numbers and the second block is white outlined in red with green numbers. The numbered blocks are attached white gold cord so they couldn’t get lost. This Santa Nutcracker Gifts are a fun way for your kids to see how much closer they are til Christmas! Select to see a complete listing of our Christmas Decorations Ideas.
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 1950’s. Many of the GI's 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 nutcracker’s 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 Santa Claus Express is a generic name applied to a number of holiday railroad excursions throughout the United States. Often sponsored by railroad museums and incorporating appropriately decorated vintage locomotives and cars, the Santa Claus Express may offer scenic tours beginning in late November and continuing through December. By other schedules, the Express stops at towns and villages along the line, at which time professional or amateur performers aboard provide a Yuletide concert or show for citizens awaiting outside. The Santa Claus Express also is a vehicle for delivering toys and gifts to underprivileged children, an example of which can be found in Appalachia. Since the mid 1440s on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, officials of CSX Transportation have furnished a locomotive and cars so that the Santa Claus Express could wind its way from Pikeville, Kentucky, across Virginia, and into Kingsport, Tennessee. All along the tracks, children and families gather, many having camped overnight to secure strategic positions. When the train slows at each whistle stop, children run behind as Santa, who addresses everyone as “darlin’,” and his assistants, local businessmen, toss candy, small toys, and other gifts from the platform on the last car into eager hands. Local merchants, some of whom were once among those children chasing the train, donate the gifts, which become the only Christmas presents that many children in this region will receive each year. Select this link to view our Christmas Figurines.





