Decorative nutcrackers — most often resembling a toy soldier, but available in countless other characters — are synonymous with the Christmas season. Why? It’s a story whose origins predate Christmas itself. And whose history involves a mining town, Napoleon, dance theater, and World War two. So...let’s get crackin’!

Mentioned in this Episode http://www.nutcrackermuseum.com/

Music in this Episode * "Dance of the Sugarplum Fairies" — Kevin MacLeod, via Wikimedia Commons * "March from the Nutcracker" — Trygve Larsen, via Pixabay * "Chinese Dance from the Nutcracker" — Trygve Larsen, via Pixabay * "Arabian Dance from the Nutcracker" — Trygve Larsen, via Pixabay * "Wish Background" — Kevin MacLeod, via Incompetech