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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German Advent word of the day: Der Nussknacker

These beloved wooden figurines are said to be good luck and to fight away malevolent spirits from the home.

German Advent word of the day: Der Nussknacker
Photo: Depositphotos

What does it mean? 

Der Nussknacker translates to “the nutcracker,” a classic Christmas symbol. Die Nuss refers to “the nut,” while Der Knacker comes from the verb knacken, “to crack.” 

A traditional nutcracker figurine is handpainted. Many are mass produced today. Photo: DPA. 

Where does it come from? 

Functional wood nutcrackers have been used in Germany since the 14th or 15th century. While the exact origin of the nutcracker man is unknown, legend goes that a wealthy farmer in the town of Seiffen in Saxony offered a reward for anyone in the village who could design a better way to to shell nuts. All the craftsmen had a different solution, but the farmer chose the puppet maker’s doll who cracked nuts in its mouth. 

The design of the nutcracker figurine was perfected in the late 17th century in the Erzgebirge, or “Ore Mountains” region of Germany. The handmade wooden figures often contained over 100 individual parts and took the form of a soldier, knight, or king. 

They became popular gifts and eventually became associated with the Christmas season due to the widespread use of nuts in the traditional Stollen and biscuits popular during the season and the need for an easy way to crack them. 

They became well-known in other European countries in the 19th century and then gained mass popularity in the United States after the Second World War, when many American soldiers stationed in Germany brought them home as souvenirs. 

The first mass production of nutcrackers in factories was started in the 1870s by Friedrich Wilhelm Füchtner, now known as the “Father of the Nutcracker” in Germany. Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ballet also increased the worldwide fame of the jolly figurines. 

Visitors to the Erzgebirge will find Europe’s only Nutcracker museum, as well as handcrafted wooden nutcrackers, which are also on sale around the world in specialty Christmas shops during the holiday season.

Nutcrackers await their top hats at a workshop in Seiffen, Saxony. Photo: DPA. 

Example sentences 

Wir fahren ins Erzgebirge, um handgemachte Nussknacker zu kaufen.

We are going to the Erzgebirge to buy handmade nutcrackers.

Die Nussknacker wurden in den fünfziger Jahren in den USA sehr beliebt. 

The nutcrackers became very popular in the US in the 1950s.

 

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GERMAN WORD OF THE DAY

German word of the day: Dudelsack

This hilarious sounding German word describes something quintessentially Scottish.

German word of the day: Dudelsack

Why do I need to know Dudelsack?

In the run-up to the German v Scotland opening match of Euro 2024, there were a lot of these gracing the streets of Munich. More importantly, why wouldn’t you want to know a word like Dudelsack?

Just say the word aloud and it will brighten your day. 

What does it mean?

Dudelsack (pronounced like this) is one of those German words that’s both charmingly literal and somewhat onomatopoeic, describing a big bag or sack that makes a ‘doodling’ kind of noise: in other words, the bagpipes.

As well as sounding like the noise this traditional Scottish instrument makes, dudeln also translates as ‘to drone’, and anyone who’s heard the bagpipes will know that this is also a fairly accurate description of how they sound. 

READ ALSO: 10 German words with hilarious literal translations

As Scotland geared up to play Germany in the opening match of Euro 2024 in Munich, many sacks were doodled in the Bavarian capital. 

Seeing parades of kilts and hearing the distinctive wail of the Dudelsack against the backdrop of Munich’s gothic town hall isn’t something you experience every day, and we’re sure it’s an experience the people of Munich also won’t forget for a while. 

Use it like this: 

Hör mal auf, Dudelsack zu spielen! Es geht mir auf die Nerven.

Stop playing the bagpipes! It’s getting on my nerves.  

Weißt du, wie der Dudelsack klingt? Man hört ihn überall in Schottland.

Do you know what the bagpipes sound like? You can hear them everywhere in Scotland. 

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