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Our Toy Seller Christmas Gifts are 10 inches tall and is wearing a tall black hat with a gold brim. His costume also consists of a red shirt with gold buttons and gold collar, gold cuffs, a black belt around his waist, green pants and black shoes. The nutcracker is holding a wooden tray displaying several of the dolls and other toys he is selling and has more hanging from the front and a tall slender Christmas tree on a long stick in his right hand and has more toys at his feet. 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.
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. So, the nutcrackers with their rich heritage arrived in the United States.
When Tchaikowsky’s ballet, The Nutcracker Suite premiered in St. Petersburg in 1892, the popularity of nutcrackers grew tremendously. The ballet became very popular in the United States in the early 1950’s and ignited the passion for these fascinating creatures. The strong following of this classic production greatly increased the popularity of collecting nutcrackers in America. Select this link to view our Large Nutcrackers.
Nutcracker History
Nutcrackers originated in the 19th century in the eastern region of Germany. Life was hard and the people worked long hours as miners and endured hardships and poverty. Often the miners watched as the fruits of their labor were confiscated by their superiors. Nutcrackers were cleverly designed to resemble the authoritarian figures of kings, policemen, and soldiers. The townspeople enjoyed these caricatures of their rulers, since the nutcrackers were placed at their service to perform the lowly task of cracking nuts. No holiday table can be without a bowl of nuts and a handsome Nutcracker!
Nutcrackers were especially popular with Germans who coined the phrase, “Gott gibt die Nüsse aber knaker müss man sie selbst or God gives the nuts but we have to 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 one of life’s rewards more easily. Select this link to view our Unique Christmas Ornaments.