20 Nutcracker Coloring Pages
Wooden nutcrackers carved as soldiers and kings come from the Ore Mountains of Germany, where woodworkers have made them since at least the 1800s. A lever in the back opens the jaw to crack nuts. Tchaikovsky's 1892 ballet The Nutcracker, based on a story by E.T.A. Hoffmann, made the figure a Christmas favorite worldwide. These pages show nutcrackers in many cheerful poses. One marches with a baton, one stands with a hand on his hip and a sword at his side, another holds a flag on a wooden stand. Others carry a present, hold a wreath, grip a giant candy cane, float with balloons or sit on a gift box. Two chubby nutcrackers pose with hands on hips or sit on the floor, and one page nods to the ballet. Nutcracker uniforms are a great place to use bold colors like red, royal blue, black and gold. Add details such as gold buttons and a tall fur hat. Cartoon versions suit preschoolers, and the ballet and marching pages suit older kids.
