A Nutcracker Christmas – Decorating the Tree

Attending the “Nutcracker” Ballet is a beloved holiday tradition for many households. Some of the that magic can be brought home by decorating the Christmas tree (preferably an oversized one, to remain true to the story) with ornaments that reflect the story of Clara and her prince, the Nutcracker.

Nuts

Make ornaments from walnuts by carefully cracking them open and emptying out the shells. Fold a piece of satin ribbon to create a loop and glue the ends together. Place the loop at the “top” of the walnut (not the ends that comes to a bit of a point) and glue the walnut back together. The walnut shells can be painted with spray paint before reassembly for a less natural look.

Ballerinas

Purchase tiny porcelain ballerina ornaments to hang on the tree.

Ballet Shoes

Find small ballet shoe charms at jewelry stores to connect to ornament hangers or add to a homemade garland. If your little one has ballet slippers from childhood, tie them together and drape over a branch of the Christmas tree.

Candy

Purchase small ornaments that look like candy and hang candy canes on the tree to symbolize the Land of Sweets.

Presents

Hang ornaments that look like pint-sized presents all over the tree to commemorate Herr Drosselmeyer’s distribution of the presents.

Mice

If you can not find mice ornaments, purchase cat toys made to resemble mice and attach them to an ornament hanger.

Dolls

Purchase tiny ornaments that look like porcelain dolls for your Nutcracker Christmas theme.

Nutcrackers

What would a Nutcracker tree be without wooden Nutcracker soldier ornaments?

Toy Soldiers/Gingerbread Soldiers

Locate tiny toy soldier ornaments, or make gingerbread men and paint them to appear like gingerbread soldiers.

Posies

Tie several small but sturdy flowers together into posies, or gather larger single blooms, and rest either the posies or the blooms directly onto the branches of the tree to commemorate the Waltz of the Flowers.

Fairies

Find tiny fairy ornaments to represent the Sugar Plum Fairy on your holiday tree by searching the garden section or craft section of a hobby store and nestle them inside your tree.

Snowflakes

Clear plastic snowflake ornaments can be purchased for mere pennies. Purchase tiny ones meant for package decorations and large ones meant for hanging from the ceiling. Make paper snowflakes and slip them on the ends of branches.

Crystal Drops

Don’t forget the Dew Drop Fairy! "Crystal" drops meant for chandeliers already have a hole in the top for running florists’ wire through for an easy hanging loop.

The Spanish Dancer

Raid the dollhouse section of a hobby store for tiny maracas that can be glued to ribbon and made into Christmas tree ornaments.

The Oriental Dancer

Find dainty teacups and tie a loop of ribbon around their handles to represent tea and the Oriental dancer.

Flutes

Small wooden flutes can be found at Renaissance Fairs for a few dollars. Celebrate Tchaikovsky’s music and the festive party scenes of the "The Nutcracker" with flutes connected to ornament hangers or resting in the branches of the tree.

Toy Instruments

There are actually toy instruments used in some of the composition of the party scene in which Clara first lays eyes on her Nutcracker. Give a nod to the music, which is much of what makes the story of “The Nutcracker” so memorable.

Make this holiday season even more special by decorating your tree with ornaments to symbolism the cherished ballet, "The Nutcracker," and at least one night, let yourself drift to sleep beneath the boughs.

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