Nutcrackers in the form of wood carvings of a soldier, knight, king, or other profession have existed since at least the 15th century. Figurative nutcrackers are a good luck symbol in Germany, and a folktale recounts that a puppet-maker won a nut cracking challenge by creating a doll with a mouth for a lever to crack the nuts. Decorative nutcrackers became popular in the United States after the Second World War, following the first US production of "The Nutcracker" ballet in 1940. Enjoy the festive music and crack some nuts while completing this 24”x 30” 1000 piece puzzle. By Kathleen Parr McKenna