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Regardless of how much you enjoy cracking nuts (or simply cracking jokes) around the holidays, nutcrackers are one of the smartest Christmas decorations to buy for your home.
Unlike Christmas lights, trees and other decor items that require a lot of time both to install and take down, nutcrackers are fast and simple. Just set one down on a side table, your mantel or a bookshelf and instantly start experiencing the joy of Christmas.
Modern nutcrackers may not all be capable of breaking open nuts (check out our favorite kitchen tools for help in that department), but they have an interesting history that makes them worth keeping around. Plus, they’re available in both budget-friendly and luxury styles.
After slowly becoming a winter holiday tradition in Europe during the 1800s, nutcrackers found their way to the U.S. when American soldiers stationed in Germany during WWII brought them home. They’ve been popular throughout the States ever since then, and have expanded from traditional soldier-themed styles into modern interpretations that involve Santa, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and even the Coca-Cola logo.
Shop the best Christmas nutcrackers below, available from Amazon, Target, Wayfair, Walmart, Etsy and other retailers. These all make excellent gifts, by the way, in case you’re looking for inspiration.
Classic design with bright blue trousers — this nutcracker checks off all the boxes and isn’t overly expensive. Made of solid wood and hand painted.
For a more modern and still affordable nutcracker option, opt for this handsome fella in a purple polka dot suit. He’s ready to party with a candy cane staff in one hand and a gift-shaped hat on his head.
Pick up this sparkly gold set of nutcracker soldiers to glam up your holidays. They’re so fabulous, one of them has dazzling white fur on his boots to match his goatee.
A festive red and green color scheme lets this nutcracker blend in with all your holiday decor. It has the year printed in gold on its foot pedestal, so you always remember when you got it.
There’s no law stating nutcrackers must be human. This teddy bear version is cute, cuddly and ready to cheer you up all throughout the holidays.
Unicorns are fair game when it comes to Christmas decorations, in case you didn’t know. This one is so cool, young kids might not even mind having it in their rooms.
Santa Claus is here to help you count down the days until Christmas with his cute lil’ calendar, which has wooden blocks inside that you can flip around to show different dates.
Woof, woof. Bark, bark. Grrr…
That’s canine for: “This nutcracker makes an excellent gift for dog owners.”
This lady’s ready to spruce up your holiday decorations with her classic top hat, festive skirt and stylish green, red and gold color scheme.
Here’s one ornament you can add to your bookshelf that your cat probably won’t knock over. Also, it’s an ideal gift for cat parents.
Upgrade your decorations with this fancy nutcracker that was hand-crafted in a small German village that’s famous for its woodworkers. It may be pricey, but it’s certainly stunning.
Get a full set of four nutcrackers at a great price. Their color-coordinating outfits make styling them around your home super easy — anywhere you set them, they’ll look perfect.
Express your love of American cinema with this nutcracker based on the dad from the classic movie, “A Christmas Story.” When you watch the movie this year (during one of its inevitable marathon showings on TV), you can point to the nutcracker during the lamp scene and have yourself a chuckle.
Some people believe the red-and-white color scheme associated with Christmas is just a long-running marketing scheme from the Coca-Cola company. That may or may not be true, but just look at this guy sparkle.
Ahhh, refreshing.
Bake up some holiday merriment with these gingerbread-baking themed nutcrackers. They’re all holly jolly, no folly.
More than 400 Amazon shoppers picked up this gingerbread nutcracker in the past month, making it one of the site’s top sellers. Just remember: this nutcracker may look like a big delicious cookie, but it’s not edible.
The king of Christmas has arrived, and he’s bringing good vibes and a whole lotta rhinestones to your home this season. His Santa hat and cape really seal the deal.
Enjoy a reprieve from tradition with this pastel colored nutcracker. His bright colors make him instantly stand out and and lighten the mood in any room, and the giant cupcake on top of his head lets you know he’s a real sweetheart.
Add a little bit of mischief to your holiday decor with this Seussical nutcracker. While it probably can’t actually crack any nuts, it’s sure to crack a couple of smiles.
Finally, you can show off your love of kitschy decorations and canines with this dog-themed nutcracker. A no-brainer gift for dog lovers, too.
Celebrate multiple holidays at the same time with this Dia de los Muertes-inspired nutcracker. This thing looks cool enough on its own that you could leave it out year round.
The decorative buttons on this nutcracker’s jacket are actually miniature bulbs that light up to bring a little extra magic to your Christmas display. It’s powered by AA batteries so you can place this anywhere without worrying about wires.
Bring some historic cheer to your home with this vintage-inspired nutcracker. Santa’s ready to get cozy on your bookshelf with his handsome plaid pajamas and faux fur-lined collars.
Go all out this year and get a nutcracker that looks just like you (or any person of your choosing). All you have to do is send the Etsy seller a photo and they’ll create a one-of-a-kind nutcracker that captures your style and personality.
This nutcracker comes with a miniature chalkboard sign where you can write the date to count down the days until Christmas, or you can scribble your own tiny holiday message. Safe to keep indoors or outside.
Mrs. Claus is sporting her finest holiday attire, including a white lace decoration on her blouse that cleverly mimics the traditional nutcracker goatee.
Decorate your own nutcracker this year with this paintable wooden model that serves as your blank Christmas canvas. Of course, you can leave it unpainted and put it on display if your prefer a real minimalist look.
Bring the classic garden gnome decor indoors with this combination nutcracker and gnome figure set. Punny sign included to spread holiday cheer to all your houseguests this season.
There’s no reasons nutcrackers can’t enjoy the outdoors. This set of nutcracker ornaments easily stake into your lawn and are made of metal to withstand even the harshest winter weather.
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