Nutcrackers

Nice page Gorgeous Clusters

Love the paper mats below the photos and those clusters... O-la-la!
Last week we discussed the Nutcracker around the dinner table. Dad thought they were related to English soldiers or guards (Beefeaters) and mom thought they were from Russia. I thought Holland. We were all wrong. They are from Germany.
Did you know: >According to German folklore, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring luck to the family and protect the home. It is said that they represent strength and power and watch over the family keeping evil spirits and danger away. >Then in 1892, Tchaikovsky's famous ballet, The Nutcracker, debuted. Because the ballet is set on Christmas Eve (and the hero is a nutcracker come to life), the products quickly became associated with holiday decor.