The Nutcracker

Nuts have been a significant part of the food supply since the beginning of time, and over the years, man has created ingenious ways to open the shells. The oldest known metal nutcracker dates to the third or fourth century B.C. Nutcrackers were mainly popular in Germany and according to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring luck to the family and protect the home.

In the 1800’s the world was introduced to The Story of The Nutcracker via the ballet at the now famous Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. The Ballet’s popularity grew in the 1960’s especially in North America and is now performed by countless ballet companies during the Christmas season each year. Which in turn gave us the Christmas Nutcracker, a favorite holiday decoration that brings memories of sugar plum fairies and first trips to the ballet.