This Gallant Nutcracker Prince
is 20 inches tall including his gold square base. Our Wooden Nutcrackers Soldiers crown is gold with green plastic jewels and the cap is red with a gold finial on the top. His coat is red with glittery green and gold cuffs, collar and epaulets. There’s also a loop ribbon below his epaulets. This Christmas Nutcracker Decorations jacket also has glittery gold and green decorations with clear plastic jewels. He has blue pants with glittery gold cuffs and tall black boots decorated with a red plastic jewel in a gold setting. The Gallant Nutcracker Prince is holding a gold scepter that has a green plastic jewel and red accents. 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 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.
