Nutcracker dolls, also known as Christmas nutcrackers, are decorative nutcracker figurines most commonly made to resemble a toy soldier. In German tradition, the dolls are symbols of good luck, frightening away malevolent spirits.
What do Nutcracker dolls symbolize?
Nutcracker dolls, also known as Christmas nutcrackers, are decorative nutcracker figurines most commonly made to resemble a toy soldier. In German tradition, the dolls are symbols of good luck, frightening away malevolent spirits. While nearly all nutcrackers from before the first half of the 20th century are functional,...
What is the purpose of a nutcracker?
While nearly all nutcrackers from before the first half of the 20th century are functional, a significant proportion of modern nutcrackers are primarily decorative, and not able to crack nuts. Nutcrackers are also a part of German folklore, serving as protectors of a house.
Are nutcrackers a sign of good luck?
According to German folklore, nutcrackers bring good luck to your family and protect your home. A nutcracker is said to represent power and strength, serving somewhat like a watchdog guarding your family against danger. A nutcracker bares its teeth to evil spirits and serves as a messenger of good luck and goodwill.
What do the names on the nutcrackers mean?
Each of the nutcrackers has, scribbled on its underside, the name of the child to whom it belongs. It's an odd little way to trace our family history, to meander among the bright dolls and try to piece together a timeline.
Why are nutcrackers shaped like soldiers?
Why are they called wooden toy soldier nutcrackers? Because the first nutcrackers were made as replicas of soldiers and other figures of authority. The common folk took great enjoyment in having the ruling people working for them, cracking their "hard nuts of life".
What soldiers are nutcrackers based on?
More recent variations have been made to resemble various pop-culture or historical figurines, from Benjamin Franklin to Operation Desert Storm-uniformed American soldiers.
Why do nutcrackers look mean?
Why do they have such a mean toothy look? To make a nutcracker work, the working lever had to be put into the head part. To do this, it had to be sawed in straight lines, so the teeth and mouth opening had to be square. This made a stern look instead of a smiling mouth.
What is the story behind a nutcracker?
The story of The Nutcracker is loosely based on the E.T.A. Hoffmann fantasy story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, about a girl who befriends a nutcracker that comes to life on Christmas Eve and wages a battle against the evil Mouse King.
Did nutcrackers ever crack nuts?
The short answer to this question is of course, yes* they can crack nuts, but it is not recommended. The Nutcracker has changed from a functional nut cracker to an ornamental traditional Christmas figurine.
What are nutcrackers modeled after?
The designs can vary, but traditionally, they are modeled after soldiers and even political figures. The icon that most know-the wooden, hand-painted soldier-remains the distinct image thought of when we hear the name. Though with modern manufacturing and technology, nutcrackers have definitely evolved.
Was The Nutcracker a soldier?
Nutcrackers are a huge part of Christmas decorating. The most common nutcracker is the in the form of a wooden soldier, which we've had for about 200 years now.
What has a nutcracker got to do with Christmas?
He had just begun selling the traditional nutcracker figures when Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, The Nutcracker, was released in 1892. Because the ballet is set during Christmastime (and prominently features a nutcracker character), the products quickly became associated with holiday decor.
What is the moral of The Nutcracker?
Clara learned that she possess the power she needs to make her dreams come true. Confidence and execution are key. Friends don't hurt each other on purpose. There was a character that smiled and cheered on Clara the entire time until she got what she wanted.
Who invented The Nutcracker?
Wilhelm FuchtnerIn 1872 Wilhelm Fuchtner, known as the father of the nutcracker, made the first commercial production of nutcrackers using the lathe to create many of the same design. The Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum shows an 1880 miner of Wilhelm Fuchtner along with a miner presently made in the Fuchtner family workshops.
What is a nutcracker doll?
Nutcracker doll. Nutcracker dolls, also known as Christmas nutcrackers, are decorative nutcracker figurines most commonly made to resemble a toy soldier. In German tradition, the dolls are symbols of good luck, frightening away malevolent spirits.
Who invented the nutcracker?
Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner [ de] (1844–1923), commonly known in Germany as "father of the nutcracker", began the first mass production of the design (using a lathe) at his workshop in Seiffen in Saxony during 1872.
How many pieces are in a Nutcracker doll?
An average handcrafted nutcracker doll is made out of about 60 separate pieces. Nutcracker dolls traditionally resemble toy soldiers, and are often painted in bright colors. Different designs proliferated early; by the early 19th century there were ones dressed as miners, policemen, royalty or soldiers from different armies. More recent variations have been made to resemble various pop-culture or historical figurines, from Benjamin Franklin to Operation Desert Storm -uniformed American soldiers.
Where did the Nutcracker doll originate?
Nutcracker dolls originate from late-17th century Germany, particularly the Ore Mountains ( German: Erzgebirge) region. One origin story attributes the creation of the first nutcracker doll to a craftsman from Seiffen. They were often given as gifts, and at some point they became associated with Christmas season.
When did nutcrackers become popular?
They were often given as gifts, and at some point they became associated with Christmas season. They grew in popularity around the 19th century and spread to nearby European countries. As the demand grew, nutcracker doll production also began on a mass scale in factories.
Who is the famous ballet actor who adapted the Nutcracker?
Further popularization came from Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky 's The Nutcracker, a ballet adaptation of E. T. A. Hoffmann 's story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, which featured a toy soldier nutcracker.
Can nutcrackers crack?
While nearly all nutcrackers from before the first half of the 20th century are functional, a significant proportion of modern nutcrackers are primarily decorative, and not able to crack nuts. Nutcrackers are also a part of German folklore, serving as protectors of a house.
What does a nutcracker represent?
According to German folklore, nutcrackers bring good luck to your family and protect your home. A nutcracker is said to represent power and strength , serving somewhat like a watchdog guarding your family against danger. A nutcracker bares its teeth to evil spirits and serves as a messenger of good luck and goodwill.
What is a nutcracker?
Treva Bedinghaus. Updated March 10, 2019. A nutcracker is an instrument used to crack nuts, typically consisting of two hinged metal levers between which the nut is squeezed. The tool is designed to crack open all sorts of nuts, and usually resembles a pair of pliers.
How do nutcrackers work?
The nutcrackers resemble people with large mouths which the operator opens by lifting a lever in the back of the figurine. (One could originally insert a nut into the mouth, press down and crack the nut.) Modern nutcrackers of this type serve mostly as decoration, mainly at Christmas time.
Where did nutcrackers originate?
Originating as a cottage industry in the rural areas of Germany, the carving of nutcrackers has become widespread. The most popular and famous nutcracker carvings come from Sonneberg in Thuringia and form the Ore Mountains. The most famous carvings came from Herr Christian Steinbach. He is also known as the “King of Nutcrackers,” as he started the tradition of handcrafting and carving nutcrackers. The Steinbach name is recognized throughout the world for the unique design of the wood-carved Steinbach creations. The unique tradition of handcrafting nutcrackers is continued by Herr Steinbach’s daughter Karla Steinbach and granddaughter Karolin Steinbach. Karla Steinbach, Vice President of Operations, is the 6th generation to lead the company.
When did the Nutcracker ballet become popular?
The Nutcracker Ballet greatly popularized the nutcracker. When the holiday ballet became popular in the United States in the early 1950s, demand for nutcrackers increased tremendously. Today, many people collect themed nutcrackers, displaying them during the holidays or even throughout the year.
Where is the pivot point on a nutcracker?
Unlike pliers, the pivot point is located at the end beyond the nut, rather than in the middle. The spring-jointed nutcracker was invented by Henry Quackenbush in 1913. Nutcrackers are also sometimes used for cracking the shells of crab and lobster to reveal the meat inside.
Who is the King of Nutcrackers?
The most famous carvings came from Herr Christian Steinbach. He is also known as the “King of Nutcrackers,” as he started the tradition of handcrafting and carving nutcrackers. The Steinbach name is recognized throughout the world for the unique design of the wood-carved Steinbach creations.
What do the little bearded nutcrackers represent?
None of the German legends mean anything to her, really—in her mythology, the little bearded nutcrackers represent only Christmases with each of her children.
Where were nutcrackers made?
In fact, the most popular nutcrackers at the time of the First World War were probably wood-carved human and animal heads made in the Groden Valley of Northern Italy. The Nutcracker wasn't widely performed until the mid-20 th century, when it became a distinctly American hit.
What was the nutcracker in 1991?
One especially controversial 1991 nutcracker, marketed once again to American GIs in Germany, was garbed in Desert Storm combat gear, toted a rifle and ammo, and was packaged in what looked like a munitions container.
