Few Christmas decorations are as instantly recognisable as the nutcracker. With his tall hat, red coat and fixed, determined expression, he has stood guard over Christmas mantelpieces and hallways for well over a century, and he looks as much at home in an elegant, pared-back room as in a traditional one.
This guide covers where Christmas nutcrackers come from, why they became part of the season, and how to choose, display and look after them so they become part of your Christmas for years to come. The designs mentioned are in the Mikolia Christmas figurines collection.
Where Christmas nutcrackers come from
The familiar wooden Christmas nutcracker is closely associated with Seiffen, a village in the Ore Mountains, or Erzgebirge, on the border of Germany and the Czech Republic. The region has a long tradition of wood turning and toy making, and it is still home to many of the workshops that make nutcrackers today.
The design most people picture took shape there around 1870, when a woodturner named Wilhelm Friedrich Füchtner made his first Erzgebirge nutcracker from spruce wood. He is often called the father of the nutcracker, and his family workshop in Seiffen still makes them.
The choice of figures has a history of its own. Nutcrackers in the form of people were already popular in the 18th century, often with a touch of gentle irony, and the early Seiffen range included soldiers, miners and policemen. Having figures of authority spend their days cracking nuts for everyone else was a quiet joke, and it is part of the reason the classic nutcracker is a uniformed soldier with a tall hat, a smart coat and a very serious face.
How the nutcracker became part of Christmas
Two stories made the link. In 1816, the German writer E. T. A. Hoffmann published The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, in which a young girl's Christmas Eve gift, a nutcracker, comes to life to battle an army of mice. The story later inspired the ballet The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky, first performed in 1892 and now one of the best-known Christmas productions in the world.
Nutcrackers spread further after the Second World War, when soldiers stationed in Germany brought them home as souvenirs, and they have been a familiar part of Christmas décor ever since.
Along the way, a piece of popular folklore grew up around them: that a nutcracker in the home brings good luck and keeps watch over the family, baring his teeth to anything unwelcome. It is a charming reason to give him a place by the front door.
Why nutcrackers suit a red Christmas
The classic nutcracker uniform of red, gold, green and black is, more or less, the colours of a traditional Christmas. That makes nutcrackers one of the easiest ways to bring red into a room, and one of the most elegant, because the red arrives in a single, well-defined shape rather than scattered across a surface.
Against a cream or neutral background, a red nutcracker stands out clearly without the room feeling busy. It is the same approach behind the Mikolia Christmas palette of red, cream and gold, which our guide to elegant Christmas decorating covers room by room.
Choosing the right size
Size changes how a nutcracker behaves in a room more than design does.
- Around 30cm: the most versatile size. At this height a nutcracker sits comfortably on a mantelpiece, shelf, sideboard or windowsill, works well in pairs and groups, and does not overwhelm a small room.
- Around 53cm to 54cm: a statement piece. At more than half a metre tall, a large nutcracker can stand on its own on a hall table, a hearth, beside the tree or on a wide stair, and it reads clearly from across the room.
A good rule is to match the size to the space around it. A large nutcracker on a narrow shelf looks squeezed, and a small one alone on a long sideboard looks lost. If in doubt, two 30cm figures are easier to place than one large one.
The Mikolia nutcrackers
There are five designs in the range, all in painted wood, in two sizes, 30cm and 53cm to 54cm:
- Tree Hat with Wreath, 54cm: red crown hat topped with a small tree, long red tailcoat and a green wreath with a gold bow. Best for: a hallway, hearth or beside the tree, on its own.
- Gift Box Hat, 53cm: tall red hat stacked with pink and green gift boxes, with a wrapped present in hand. Best for: a hallway or beside the tree; the most playful choice.
- Green Crown with Christmas Tree, 30cm: striped hat with a green crown and a red jacket with gold scrollwork. Best for: a mantelpiece, a shelf or as part of a group.
- Red and White Striped Hat, 30cm: red jacket with gold braid, standing to attention. Best for: a pair on the mantelpiece or a row on a windowsill.
- Black Hat with Wreath, 30cm: black hat with a gold emblem and a green wreath held in front. Best for: a sideboard, dining table or a more formal room.
The three 30cm designs share the same proportions and the same black and white harlequin ball on a gold base, so they are made to be displayed together.
How to display nutcrackers
There is no single right way to display nutcrackers, but three arrangements work reliably: a pair, a single figure, and a group.
As a pair
Two nutcrackers framing something is the most classic arrangement. Symmetry suits their upright forms, and a matching pair gives a room a formal, finished look. Choose two of the same height, either the same design or two different 30cm designs.
- Mantelpiece: one figure at each end, with greenery or candles between them and the centre left clear for the mirror or artwork.
- Beside the tree: one on each side, on the floor or on low stools if the figures are small.
- Hall table or inside doorway: one either side, like a pair of guards.
- Dining table: one 30cm figure at each end of a long table, kept well away from candles. Our guide to setting a Christmas table covers the rest.
As a single statement
One large nutcracker on its own can be more striking than several small ones. A 53cm or 54cm figure has enough presence to stand alone, and it needs little around it beyond a candle or some greenery at its feet.
- Hallway: by the front door, where it is the first thing guests see, and suits the old idea of a nutcracker keeping watch over the home.
- Hearth: beside the fireplace rather than on the mantelpiece, where a large figure can feel cramped.
- Beside the tree: on the floor, where its height balances the tree.
- Stairs: on a wide bottom step or on the landing, set back where it will not be knocked.
As a group
Groups often look best in odd numbers and at different heights, so a large nutcracker behind two 30cm ones makes a natural step. That said, a row of matching 30cm nutcrackers standing shoulder to shoulder along a windowsill or mantelpiece works for the opposite reason: it reads deliberately as a line of soldiers on parade.
For a softer group on a sideboard or console, mix nutcrackers with the cream and gold reindeer. A red nutcracker behind a reindeer in a white jacket balances strong red with warm cream, and a set of gold crystal taper candlesticks or a ginger jar beside them adds height. Our guide to living room ornaments covers grouping in more detail.
Wherever you place them
Nutcrackers are decorative figurines rather than toys, so keep them out of reach of young children. Keep them away from radiators, fires and sunny windowsills too, which can fade or crack a painted finish over time.
Nutcrackers as gifts and family traditions
Nutcrackers make one of the most lasting Christmas gifts, because they come out year after year. Many families add a new one each Christmas, so the collection grows with the children and each figure carries a memory of the year it arrived. A nutcracker also makes a thoughtful gift for a baby's first Christmas, to be kept on display out of reach until they are old enough to enjoy it.
For more gift ideas for the home, see our guide to home décor gifts.
How to care for and store nutcrackers
- Dust with a soft, dry cloth or a soft brush. Do not use water, polish or cleaning products, which can damage a painted finish.
- Keep away from heat, damp and strong sunlight while on display.
- Wrap each figure individually in tissue paper before packing, paying particular attention to hats, hands and anything they are holding.
- Keep figures upright in individual compartments in a sturdy box, without stacking them on top of each other.
- Choose a dry place. Damp lofts, garages and sheds are hard on painted wood, so a cupboard inside the house is better.
Looked after this way, a nutcracker can come out every Christmas for many years.
Frequently asked questions
Where do Christmas nutcrackers come from?
The familiar wooden Christmas nutcracker is closely associated with Seiffen in Germany's Ore Mountains (Erzgebirge), a region known for wood turning. Wilhelm Friedrich Füchtner made his first Erzgebirge nutcracker there around 1870, and his work shaped the classic soldier design known today.
Why are nutcrackers associated with Christmas?
Mainly because of E. T. A. Hoffmann's 1816 story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, in which a nutcracker given as a Christmas gift comes to life, and the ballet it later inspired, The Nutcracker, with music by Tchaikovsky, which made the story famous around the world.
What does a nutcracker symbolise?
In popular folklore, a nutcracker is said to bring good luck to a home and to keep watch over the family. Their soldier and official designs also carry a touch of gentle irony, with figures of authority cracking nuts for everyone else.
Can decorative nutcrackers actually crack nuts?
Decorative Christmas nutcrackers, including the Mikolia designs, are made for display rather than for cracking nuts. Using them that way can damage the figure and its painted finish.
How do you display nutcrackers at Christmas?
A matching pair, with one figure at each end of a mantelpiece or one either side of the tree, is the classic arrangement. A single large nutcracker works well in a hallway, and smaller ones can be grouped at different heights or lined up in a row like soldiers on parade.
What size nutcracker should I buy?
Around 30cm suits mantelpieces, shelves and pairs or groups. Around 53cm to 54cm is a statement size for hallways, hearths and beside the tree, where one figure can stand on its own.
How do you store nutcrackers after Christmas?
Dust them, wrap each one individually in tissue paper, and keep them upright in individual compartments in a sturdy box, without stacking them. Store the box in a dry cupboard inside the house, away from damp lofts and garages.
Where can I buy Christmas nutcrackers in the UK?
Mikolia offers a curated range of painted wooden nutcracker figurines in 30cm and 53cm to 54cm sizes, alongside reindeer figurines and festive décor in the Christmas collection, online at mikolia.com with fast, fully tracked UK delivery.
Mikolia is a UK based home décor brand. Alongside Christmas décor, the range includes vases, candle holders, soft furnishings, wall art and decorative accessories, all at mikolia.com.
