Our Musical Clara Nutcracker stands 14½ inches tall including her ornate mauve and gold musical stand that plays a portion of the Nutcracker Suite. Clara has curly blonde hair with a pink bow in her hair. Her gown is pale pink flannel with white lace cuffs, a ping ribbon bow at the top and two pink ribbon flowers on the skirt. She is wearing pink slippers and holding her nutcracker prince doll. Select this link to view our Christmas Nutcrackers Village People.
Do Not Over Wind!
History of German Nutcrackers
Produced for generations by skilled German woodcrafter, nutcrackers were traditionally dressed as soldiers and kings. In old Germany, it delighted villagers to see these authoritarian figures doing menial tasks such as cracking nuts! A bowl of Christmas nuts was just not complete without a colorful German nutcracker standing at attention nearby. Nutcrackers were especially popular with Germans who coined the phrase, “Gott gibt die nüsse aber knacken müss man sie selbst (God gives the nuts but we must crack them ourselves),” which was intended to teach children that life was hard but rewarding. This phrase made the nutcracker a favorite toy, possibly because it enabled children to reach life’s rewards more easily. Select this link to view our Wooden Nutcrackers Soldiers.
The History of Nutcrackers
According to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to your family and protect your home. The legend says that a nutcracker represents power and strength and serves like a trusty watch dog guarding your family from evil spirits and danger. A fierce protector, the nutcracker bares its teeth to the evil spirits and serves as the traditional messenger of good luck and goodwill.
Nutcrackers reflect ancestral dining customs where amusing or unusual nutcrackers were part of the social setting adding a whimsical conversation piece as guests linger over the dessert course which included treats such as pecans and hazelnuts. Select this link to view our Large Nutcrackers.
Writers, composers and artists sang and danced the praises of the legend of the Nutcracker beginning with the novel “The Nutcracker and the King of Mice,” written sometime between 1776 and 1822, by E.T.A. Hoffman which became the basis for Tchaikovsky’s magnificent “Nutcracker Suite”, which debuted as a ballet in St. Petersburg in 1892 and lives on as a holiday tradition throughout the world. Select this link to view our Wooden Nutcracker Ornaments.