IRVINGTON — At 2:00 p.m. on Sunday November 25, the German Honorary Consul Sven Schumacher will open the latest exhibit at the Bona Thompson Memorial Center with a brief talk on German Christmas traditions. The exhibit, Crackers for Christmas, displays the variety, whimsey and craftmanship of the German folk art decorative nutcrackers.
Figurative nutcrackers have been considered good luck symbols in Germany since the 15th century. In an ancient folktale, a puppet-maker won a nutcracking challenge by creating a doll with a large mouth on a lever, to crack the nuts.
In German culture, nutcrackers embody the cycle of life. As the nut falls to the ground, it grows into a strong tree, nourishing settlers in the region as well as woodcutters and woodcrafters. A feast is traditionally celebrated just before elder trees are harvested, where nuts and fruits are eaten to pass on the magic and mystery of this eternal cycle, and the wood of the tree is transformed into these exquisite wooden nutcrackers. In the German speaking regions of Europe, the nutcracker serves as the traditional messenger of good luck and goodwill bringing good luck to your family and protecting your home.
The carving of nutcrackers, typically in the form of soldiers, knights, as well as religious figures, developed as a cottage industry in forested rural areas of Germany. One of the most renowned crafting families is the Steinbach family, which created these German folk art figures for five generations (1832-2015). Their nutcrackers are known for their fine workmanship and detail.
The Bona Thompson Memorial Center, 5350 Unversity Ave., is open Wednesday, 1pm – 3pm; Saturday, 1pm – 4pm and Sunday, 1pm – 4pm. Admission is free.
