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The nutcracker most often thought of is both functional and
decorative. The traditional nutcracker has been produced since
at least the 15th century in the rural forests of Germany. Most
often the wood-carved nutcracker is in the image of a soldier,
king, knight or some other profession. The nutcracker has a
large mouth that is opened by lifting a lever in the back in
which a nut is inserted. The lever is pushed down which then
moves the mouth and cracks the nut.
The function of cracking nuts can be done just as easily with a simple
metal tool but the beauty of the wood-carved nutcrackers has become a
traditional Christmas decoration in many households. The Nutcracker Ballet
gets its name from this holiday decoration.
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