Nutcrackers, those things that crack nuts!

Everyone from the smallest of children through adults have seen and or heard of the Nutcracker Ballet.  The most prominent character in the ballet of the same name is the Nutcracker.  What is a Nutcracker?  Where did it originate from?  When did it first come into existence and where?

There are a variety of dates believed to be when the first actual Nutcrackers came into existence.  Nutcrackers were found to have been around for over 2000 years.  They have been found in very early graves. They were made from a variety of metals, had two levers and their primary purpose was to open nuts.  The Nutcrackers began to evolve from a useful tool to an item with a decorative value. 

From the times of early civilization to the medieval era, not much was changed in the crafting of the Nutcracker.  Sometime in the 16th and 17th century, Nutcrackers began to be made with the primary purpose of decoration.  Nutcrackers have been owned by King Henry VIII as well as Leonardo DaVinci.

In the 18th Century, Nutcrackers became very popular throughout Europe.  Germany became the central location from where Nutcrackers were produced.  The hub of Nutcracker production is and was the Erzgebirge region of Germany which is located close to the border of the Czech Republic.  The Erzgebirge region was a very wealthy area up until the 18th century.  There were very large deposits of silver and tin.  The residents of the area were primarily employed in the mines.  When the mines ceased to be viable, the miners needed to find another source of income.

Oftentimes during the winter months, the miners carved wood as a form of entertainment which ultimately led to a source of income.  The miners carved very ornate toys and dolls.  The first wooden Nutcrackers were often carefully designed to resemble powerful and influential public figures such as rulers, policemen, military men and others.  As is the case in modern times, miners often did the most difficult work while others prospered from their labor.  When the mines dried up, miners turned to full time wood carving all year long.  They soon became a symbol of the region and were sold throughout Europe.  The Erzgebirge region became known as the origin of the Nutcrackers.

The classic Nutcrackers are usually a result of a carefully thought out theme.  The Nutcracker is mostly made from Pine, Maple, Beech, or Linden wood.  The wood is dried and cured, a process which takes several years.  The Nutcracker is assembled manually by itself.  The craftsmen who make the Nutcrackers train for years prior to being able to be responsible for the many individual steps in the process of producing a Nutcracker by hand. Two of the most well-known Nutcracker companies are those belonging to Steinbach and Christian Ulbricht. These companies have produced Nutcrackers which have come a long way from the traditional Erzgebirge Nutcrackers. They have issued Nutcrackers resembling Albert Einstein, United States Presidents, Statesmen, Military figures, classic literary figures and other popular themes.  Nutcrackers continue to be collectible, fun and a great representation of the holiday season.

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