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Why are all the nutcrackers Caucasian?

55 replies

theboldtype · 29/11/2020 22:15

Sorry this is in the wrong spot, I couldn’t find the Christmas thread.
I’m wanting to buy nutcrackers of colour for my Christmas tree and I can’t find them anywhere. Is there a legitimate reason why no one makes them?
And I’m sorry if I’ve used the wrong wording.
My niece and nephew are mixed race and I would like my tree to have some diversity (I have a bit of a nutcracker theme going on).

Why are all the nutcrackers Caucasian?
OP posts:
JustCallMeGriffin · 29/11/2020 22:27

I suspect because they're styled on the traditional German solider doll for good luck (or something akin to that).

That being said this is a world of commerce. I'm sure you can find somewhere online that'll sell them. Best of luck!

Newfornow · 29/11/2020 22:37

I’m more interested in why you think they are.

SunniCameHomeWithAVengeance · 29/11/2020 22:39

Try Amazon.
They are more traditionally from Germany so that would explain the skin colour.

LimpidPools · 29/11/2020 23:08

I thought this was interesting, so I've done a little light googling.

Apparently the typical Nutcracker design is based on one that was created in the Ore Mountains in East Germany in 1870. The typical design is of a hussar - a cavalry soldier. (Originally Hungarian, later in various central European armies.)

So they're usually still made to look like 18th/19th century German (Prussian?) soldiers, who would have been white.

Although there does appear to be a Star Wars range... Grin

Elmo311 · 29/11/2020 23:11

Quick google, could only find this US company but they'll ship. (Haven't looked thoroughly through website so hopefully it's not terrible!)

Will arrive for Christmas though :)

christmasincolor.com/products

Elmo311 · 29/11/2020 23:12

From their website

Why are all the nutcrackers Caucasian?
Ringading7 · 29/11/2020 23:12

I heard an interview on Times Radio the other day about a company that is making non-white Christmas decorations... March something!

Ringading7 · 29/11/2020 23:13

Here you go: www.marchmuses.co.uk/

Not sure if they do nutcrackers but the interview was impressive!

SunniCameHomeWithAVengeance · 29/11/2020 23:15

I had one that was missing part of his face, so he was stood there with 1.5 eyes, no nose or top teeth with his gob wide open like he'd just been told theres no Santa.

gobbynorthernbird · 29/11/2020 23:17

@SunniCameHomeWithAVengeance

Try Amazon. They are more traditionally from Germany so that would explain the skin colour.
But the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and (mostly) the Magi you can buy are all white. How is that historically correct? All the angels that you can buy are also white.
theonlywayisup33 · 29/11/2020 23:18

Elmo that is a great find.

theboldtype · 29/11/2020 23:21

Elmo thank you that was exactly what I was looking for! They are beautiful.
And thank you everyone else for your comments.

OP posts:
SunniCameHomeWithAVengeance · 29/11/2020 23:22

@gobbynorthernbird the OP asked about nutcrackers.

My nativity scene is glass so colourless.

Elmo311 · 29/11/2020 23:24

Yay!
Hope you have a lovely Christmas :)

SchrodingersImmigrant · 29/11/2020 23:36

But the baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and (mostly) the Magi you can buy are all white. How is that historically correct? All the angels that you can buy are also white.
For a start the soldiers existed.

I like the Marchmusen decorations!

Catlover77 · 29/11/2020 23:47

@SunniCameHomeWithAVengeance

I had one that was missing part of his face, so he was stood there with 1.5 eyes, no nose or top teeth with his gob wide open like he'd just been told theres no Santa.
Grin
MrsMiaWallis · 29/11/2020 23:51

Are you serious? He's literally a nutcracker. Why does it matter what colour he is?

jingleballing · 29/11/2020 23:56

@MrsMiaWallis would you still feel the same way if everything or almost everything you purchased from the high street was brown/black skinned? That it's 'just' dark skin on everything you purchased , even though you were white ?

It's flippant and ignorant comments like these that really annoy me !

MrsMiaWallis · 29/11/2020 23:57

But he's a fictional character from an actual ballet! He's a Caucasian nutcracker.

MrsMiaWallis · 30/11/2020 00:01

That site linked does lovely non Caucasian angels and nativity. But the nutcracker is such a tiny random part of Christmas! Does it matter if he's a white nutcracker,?!

CountFosco · 30/11/2020 00:05

This shop also does black Christmas Decorations:
The Cornrow

And since the UK have had black people living here since Roman times I'm sure that Germansy did as well and so they will have had black German soldiers.

MrsMiaWallis · 30/11/2020 00:09

And since the UK have had black people living here since Roman times I'm sure that Germansy did as well and so they will have had black German soldiers

Whats that got to do with it? The Nutcracker is a fictional character. It's like fussing that there aren't any black Alice in wonderland characters to hang on the tree.

CountFosco · 30/11/2020 00:10

RockettStGeorge has a Jimi Hendrix and a black drag queen baubles, they are as kitch as you might imagine!

iklboogeymum · 30/11/2020 00:12

the angels that you can buy are also white

Have you met many angels?

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