Why is the Nutcracker associated with Christmas?

One of the many traditions of Christmas is to decorate your home with a nutcracker, but as it turns out not many people understand why the nutcracker is associated with Christmas. Once a German tradition in the 17th century, to now, a Christmas must have in your home on Christmas. In the 1800s E.T.A. Hoffman wrote a story about 'The Nutcracker and The Mouse King'. This made many children believe that on Christmas Eve night their Nutcracker will come alive and defeat an evil mouse king. Safe to say, that this is certainly not the case.

Where do Nutcracker dolls come from?

Nutcrackers originated in the Erzgebirge region of Germany in the late 17th century as the decline of mining in the Ore mountains turned the led miners to turn to woodworking as they started carving the ever nutcrackers. The fact is, that the first ever nutcrackers weren't for decorative purposes and in fact where made wooden and metal tools made for cracking nuts. It was only later when they lost their nut cracking function as started being used as decorations where the nutcracker was depicted as soldiers and king figures that were often given as gifts and symbolised as protecting you from evil spirits and bringing good luck.

The Nutcrackers rise to popularity

Early History

The need for a nutcracker took a quick turn being known as a Christmas decoration in the 19th century with the story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman by published. This gave the children the thought that nutcrackers are special and magical figures and they needed one. In 1872, the mass production of nutcrackers in Seiffen, Germany by Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner made these nutcracker dolls widely accessible to the public. This was just the start for the nutcracker as in 1892 the ballet 'The Nutcracker' by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky retold the story of E.T.A. Hoffman's short story. This became a staple performance at the ballet in North America and is still re-enacted to this day and is a testament to many more renditions of 'The Nutcracker' for many years after.

Modern History

Nutcrackers were only really popular in Germany to start with. The decorative nutcracker doll became widely popular in the United States and everywhere else after the Second World War, as a lot of the American soldiers brought them home as a keep sake from their time in Germany. This led the nutcracker becoming a beloved decoration during Christmas time and a huge holiday symbol and now are regularly used in films. books and as ornamental figures.

Where to display Nutcrackers?

There are many different places you can display your Christmas Nutcracker this Christmas, it all comes down you the size of your nutcracker. For example, your larger sized nutcrackers can be placed in your entryway and act as a welcoming figure for your party guests and give them good luck upon entry to your home. Your smaller nutcrackers can be placed on your mantlepiece as a table centrepiece to elevate your homes Christmas presence. Wherever your nutcracker lives, it is sure to offer good luck to people in your home and also help you level up your Christmas decoration game within your home.

Conclusion

In conclusion, nutcrackers are associated with Christmas not only for their decorative purposes but it is so much more. From the hit ballet 'The Nutcracker' in 1872 which gained the nutcracker the title of a Christmas decoration due to the story being set on Christmas Eve to the thought that nutcrackers ward off evil spirits and brings in good luck, which is what children want on Christmas Eve to help Santa deliver those presents on their special day.