If you’re planning on giving a nutcracker doll as a gift, consider printing out onto Christmas-themed printer paper some of the history about this festive holiday decor, such as putting it on white paper with a red ribbon border to match the nutcracker’s style. Roll up each sheet into a tight scroll that’s shorter than the nutcracker itself, tie a ribbon around it, and include it with the present so the recipient has a little background to their new decor that they can share with others who ask the story behind it.
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Originally created as nutcracker dolls, they were protectors of the house. The original nutcracker dolls were symbols of good luck which would scare away evil spirits. People of the day saw them as a symbol of strength and power.

From beginnings as functional nutcrackers made from ore, tin soldiers grew in popularity as gifts around the 19th century. As fun conversational pieces during the desert course, unusual novelty nutcrackers would be brought out as diners enjoyed their ancestral dining customs of pecans and hazelnuts. Now, Christmas Nutcrackers resemble toy soldiers and have become popular in Christmas decorations as ornament displays.

In the early days of the tin soldier's life story, nutcracker dolls consisted of sixty different pieces and although they originally resembled toy soldiers, assorted styles proliferated. In the early 19th century, designs included miners, police officers, royalty, and military soldiers. More recently, designs include Queen Elizabeth the II, US president Benjamin Franklin, Elvis, and cultural themes like Italian and French nutcrackers.

The popularity as a decorative Christmas ornament grew because of the bright, festive colours used to paint them. In 1892, the fame of toy soldier nutcrackers exploded when they were featured in the ballet adaptation of the 1816 story "œThe Nutcracker and the Mouse King" composed by Tchaikovsky. The ballet performance known simply as "œThe Nutcracker", featured a toy soldier nutcracker and was a hit with American audiences. Attending this ballet performance became a favourite holiday tradition for people of the U.S.

During their time in Europe for WWII, American soldiers found the traditional nutcracker dolls while stationed in Germany and purchased as souvenirs. The German nutcracker dolls resembled the toy soldier nutcrackers in Tchaikovsky's ballet piece. It was around this time that nutcrackers and tin soldiers grew worldwide to became what now we consider a decoration synonymous with Christmas.

Now that you know some of the fascinating history behind nutcracker dolls and how you can incorporate it into your gift giving, let’s talk about some of the nutcracker doll options that Christmas Warehouse can offer you.

Christmas Warehouse has nutcracker dolls in a variety of heights, so you can choose which one most appeals to the decorative purpose in which you're interested. For example, if you want a smaller option that can sit on a table or mantel, we have several that may appeal to you. However, for a more dramatic piece, a life-size Christmas nutcracker soldier can be an unexpected surprise in your home or workplace. Depending on your height, you may come exactly face-to-face with this charming character whenever you’re in its presence.

The height you prefer your nutcracker doll to be depends on where you want to display it. For example, if you’re working with a small area where there’s not much height to spare, the shorter nutcracker dolls would be ideal, but if you have substantial height room and want a decorative piece that you can’t miss, and you adore the tallest nutcracker option we have, the lifesize version may be the best piece. All our nutcracker dolls are conversation starters, but a lifesize version is sure to get noticed quickly if you put it in a well-travelled area.

Should you buy more than one nutcracker doll, you have the option to display them together in multiples or separately. In certain areas, it can be great to showcase them on opposite ends of a flat surface, such as on opposing ends of a mantel or a table, and putting vibrant Christmas decorations in between them. So the nutcracker dolls aren't overshadowed, keep the middle decorations shorter than the dolls are, such as by filling the space with garland, baubles, bows, or candy canes. Check through our decorative Christmas items, as we have many options that would look great in that space.

Many of our Christmas nutcracker dolls have slight variations in their look, such as the type of staff they’re carrying or the ensemble they’re sporting. Of the options, choose the one that you’re most drawn to and feel would best fit into your space. Should you want to give the dolls as a gift, think about which ones the recipient would pick out if they had the options in front of them.

Our nutcracker dolls are sturdy but delicate, so it’s important to pack them carefully after the holidays so they don’t get damaged. Bubble wrap is a great option to wrap around the nutcracker doll, but be careful with particularly vulnerable areas, like around the staff at the top and bottom. Opt to put extra cushioning in those areas so they don’t accidentally break during packing or transportation or while in storage. Once you finish the wrapping, put the doll in a sturdy box and label the outside so you're aware of the contents and can easily access them the following year. If possible, put the box on a high shelf where it’s out of the way from accidentally getting crushed by heavier items.

Should you have any questions about our nutcracker dolls, feel free to reach out to our knowledgeable staff at Christmas Warehouse. We’d be happy to help you decide which option may be best for you or a recipient.