At Christmas, the Nutcracker character has a very special place. Some families adopt it in Christmas decorations, which amazes children and adults. What is the story of The Nutcracker? And what is the connection between the Nutcracker and Christmas? Answers.
At the time of the end-of-year celebrations, the magic of Christmas takes place not only thanks to Santa Claus and the legends that surround him, but also thanks to certain characters, such as the Nutcracker. This figurine, which takes the appearance of a wooden soldier, is one of the strong symbols that embody Christmas in their own way. It is also found more and more in certain stores, in the Christmas decorations section. But behind the character hides a long story, which has been taken up and adapted over the years.
What is the origin of the Nutcracker character?
The Nutcracker does not descend from the North Pole, nor from Santa’s house. It was invented as an object by Aristotle during antiquity. The Nutcracker figurine also finds its origins in Germany and more precisely in the Ore Mountains where specialized craftsmen still make it today. Originally, this wooden object of good fortune was thought to really crack nuts. This was made possible by a mechanism located in the character’s jaw. A screw or lever system was placed at the back. The mouth of the figurine opened to place a nut inside and by activating the lever downwards it went up to break the shell. Today, the nutcracker has moved away from its primary role and has become more of a decorative object than anything else. For lovers of beautiful decoration, they are also real collector’s items.
What are the legends and tales around The Nutcracker?
The Nutcracker character was made famous in particular thanks to the German tale The Nutcracker and the Little Mousewritten by Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann in 1816. The story takes place at Christmas. A little girl named Marie celebrates it with her family. Under the tree, she receives as a gift a magnificent wooden nutcracker, in the shape of a soldier. The evening passes and an argument breaks out with her little brother Fritz. In the commotion, the Nutcracker then shatters. Marie’s uncle repairs it immediately and takes the opportunity to tell her the story of this strange wooden man and the spell cast on him by the terrible Queen of the Mice. In the evening, Marie goes to bed and when the twelfth stroke of midnight strikes, the Nutcracker she had put down suddenly comes to life with the other toys. By magic, Marie becomes very small like a doll. The Mouse King appears and rushes straight at her, the Nutcracker then engages in a fight to save her. Little Marie, against her will, will take part in the plot and will live alongside her nutcracker incredible adventures in a universe populated by magical creatures…
A completely different legend from another era tells that a rich, miserly and embittered peasant was looking for an effective way to crack the nuts he ate. He offered a reward for the person who would be able to answer his request. An ingenious sculptor got wind of his proposal, and made him a wooden figurine, a nutcracker, which, thanks to its mouth and a lever, could crack the shell of hazelnuts. It is also said that the nutcracker also broke the shell of the peasant’s heart.
A few years later, the Nutcracker character inspired the French writer Alexandre Dumas who made a fiction of it in 1846 soberly titled Story of a Nutcracker. This adaptation in turn inspired the composer Tchaikovsky for the creation of the famous classical ballet which bears the name “Casse-Noisette”.
What is the connection between the Nutcracker and Christmas?
The Nutcracker figurine has become an icon of Christmas celebrations despite itself. It is in particular thanks to the tale of Ernst Theodor Amadeus Hoffmann and the ballet of Tchaikovsky that The Nutcracker has become a symbol of Christmas.. In Tchaikovsky’s magical ballet, the wooden figure comes to life in a dream, on Christmas Eve, and begins to dance.
If you like Nutcrackers, you are thinking of making your own at home, by getting the right equipment. The Créatyvia Youtube channel offers a tutorial on how to make a life-size Nutcracker. For this you will need:
- 2 large rolls of paper
- 1 roll of toilet paper
- 1 hot glue gun
- aluminum foil
- Flour glue
- classic glue
- newspaper
- Paintbrushes
- Cans of paint, color of your choice
- felt rolls
- Sheets of card stock
- Ribbon and string
- scissors
- Markers
- stickers
- plastic containers
Where to buy a Nutcracker figurine?
At the time of the end-of-year celebrations, as decoration, more and more families take pleasure in placing a few nutcrackers in their decor. If you want to buy some, you can find some in various stores such as Maisons du monde, Leroy Merlin, Hema or Zodio.
And even online, especially on La Redoute and the website www.noelchic.fr. Along with elves, gnomes and elves, the Nutcracker is one of the legendary characters surrounding Santa Claus. All have varied and distant origins, but are now part of Christmas folklore in many countries.