The History of Nutcrackers

_Elsa_

Figures of Nutcrackers are quite a common Christmas decoration now. However, they only became popular around the world after World War II.

Nutcracker dolls have been made in made in parts of what's now Germany and Czechia/Czech Republic (around Bohemia and Saxony) since the late 1600s. They might have original been made as good luck symbols or caricatures.

One story says that a rich but grumpy farmer couldn't find a good way of cracking walnuts and offered a reward to anyone who did. A wood carver from the village of Seiffen (in Saxony) made a doll with an opening and closing mouth which was powerful enough to crack nuts. It was a great success and the farmer rewarded the village!

Today Nutcracker dolls are normally made like toy soldiers but they were also made decorated like miners, the police and kings.

By 1800 they were popular decorations in the areas of Saxony and Sonneberg. There are records of them being sold in Dresden market in 1786. Napoleon occupied this area in the early 1800s and it might have been Nutcrackers made to look like Napoleon and his soldiers which gave them the look we still have today.

Nutcracker dolls became popular around other parts of Germany and Europe from the early to mid-1800s. (Source)

Would you like to learn how they are made?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmTGmLyT-FY

wykoon

Wow @Elsa

Thanks for sharing this useful info and I love how they made the nutcracker. I must say I'm very impressed with the painter who has a steady hand to paint those eyebrow in free style.

😄😄😄

Diamond_Lim

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Alexandra_Tang

Wow @Elsa

Very interesting information to read. Thanks for the research 😘

Racoon7

Wow! Thank you @Elsa for this really fascinating post 😊 There is a program on TV here called "How it is Made" I am always amazed, it is so interesting. Thank you for the tag @Diamond Lim

aautz1

This is pretty interesting my mother in law collects these. She has an Easter bunny..one that's like 1 ft high..there pretty interesting

DieOmimi

Thanks @Elsa for the information. The production of Christmas decorations from wood is a great tradition in my country. I myself have various figures such as the Nutcracker, a miner and various other figures. They are offered as figures to put up as decoration or as incense smokers.

Peanut7139

Wow! Thank you @Elsa for this really interesting post. Good read

Kate3A

Interesting!

Nat09

Thanks @Elsa I really appreciate all the effort you put in bringing us all the info. It’s great 😊🐰

CassD

Thank you @Elsa for providing such an interesting post.