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What is a German nutcracker?
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. Nutcrackers are also a part of German folklore, serving as protectors of a house.
Why are nutcrackers popular in Germany?
Wood nutcrackers in Germany have been in use since the 14th or 15th century. The most popular origin story of nutcrackers in Germany is that a wealthy farmer wanted to improve his productivity and was frustrated by the slow process of shelling nuts and offered a reward for the best solution.
How much are German nutcrackers worth?
Collectible nutcrackers can range in value from the store bought version for about $125 to the collectors type dating from the 16th Century commanding upwards of $5,000. These objects are decorative, historical and vastly interesting.
Where in Germany are nutcrackers made?
Erzgebirge mountain region
German nutcrackers are wildly popular collectibles that are made in the Erzgebirge mountain region of northeastern Germany.
What does a nutcracker bird look like?
Clark’s Nutcrackers are pale gray birds with black wings. In flight, the wings show large white patches along the trailing edges (secondaries). The tail is black in the center with broad white along either side. Nutcrackers have black bills, legs, and feet.
What do nutcrackers represent?
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. Long ago, rare or unusual nutcrackers were part of the social dining tradition.
What is a New York nutcracker?
A nutcracker is a type of alcoholic drink consisting of a mixture of hard liquor and sugary beverages such as fruit juice. Nutcrackers originated and are made and sold in New York City. Nutcrackers frequently consist of liquors such as vodka, rum, tequila and cognac, mixed with fruit juice, Kool-Aid or candy.
Why are the soldiers called nutcrackers?
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”.
Is a nutcracker a crow?
The nutcrackers (Nucifraga) are a genus of three species of passerine bird, in the family Corvidae, related to the jays and crows. The genus name is a New Latin translation of German Nussbrecher, “nut-breaker”. …
How big is a nutcracker bird?
12.5 inches
It is 32 cm (12.5 inches) long and brownish, with white streaking and a white tail tip.
What is a German Nutcracker?
The German nutcracker is unique to the world of German crafts being produced in the Erzgebirge mountain regions of northeastern Germany because they are one of the few crafts that were designed after the ruling class, military personnel, church leaders, and other authoritative figures that existed in Germany and throughout Europe for centuries.
Why do Germans put nutcrackers on Christmas trees?
Nuts were a popular treat during this time of year, so being able to both use and display German nutcrackers at Christmastime became a fast tradition in Germany. By the 1800s, German nutcrackers were created to represent and vilify many of the leaders and authority figures of the day.
What are Käthe Wohlfahrt nutcrackers?
The quintessential icon of Christmas, the nutcracker dates back to the early 18th century. Carrying on the tradition of their German predecessors with their Holzknackl nutcrackers, Käthe Wohlfahrt artists painstakingly create stunning pieces by hand, creating Christmas heirlooms for your home.
Where are Nutcracker carvings made?
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.