Nutcrackers Make A Great Xmas Tradition

Nutcrackers make for a great xmas tradition around our home. It was only a few years ago

when we didn't have any nutcrackers at Christmas time. Our home was warm and inviting but

there was something missing unbeknown to us at the time. As it happened my dear Aunt in

Hamilton gave me a few small nutcracker ornaments which we hung on our christmas tree

that year. They immediately had an impact on our family. Almost as if they had a life of

there own they added warmth and ambience we could not have imagined.

And so the quest began, we had to find another nutcracker. They all seem to have there

own special quality, and even personality. At first we found one and then another.

Where ever we went, we were (and still are) always on the lookout for the next nutcracker

to join the family. Sometimes you will find a nutcracker in the oddest places. The best buy we

ever made was just a year ago in a clearance bin in a drug store. The oddity was it was late

November not the New Year. There we found a five foot nutcracker who we named Chuck and

he only cost us $19.00, which is a steal for a nutcracker this size.It's been a number of years

now and our family of nutcrackers has

grown. Some are big and some are small, but as my wife said size doesn't

matter...(HoHoHo)

Initially we had them take part in the usual nutcracker duties, you know like guarding

the door way, guarding the stairway, guarding the xmas tree and the list goes on. And we

noticed they would never complain of the endless hours and solemn duties they were called

into, but we knew they must have dreamt of something more, maybe like being more part of

the family and festivities.

Well we started letting them sit at the table for snacks and before you know it, they

were helping us decorate, cook, play with the cats and even just kick back and enjoy

listening to the Christmas music and enjoy the warmth of the fireplace (but not too

close).