he Nutcracker Contest

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

Christmas time in the Alpine Mountains of Lilliland was an especially joyous time. There was fresh, glistening snow everywhere. Ski trails were alive with people enjoying the scenic wonderland.

It was also the time to judge the best nutcracker of all of the 100 nutcrackers that were submitted by local craftsmen. The judges selected by the Baron were to identify the top ten best nutcrackers and the Baron and Lady Angela of Alpine Castle would select the winner. That was the way of the event for many years. This year Lady Angela would participate in the contest only if there were some feminine nutcrackers entered into the contest in a separate classification from the masculine nutcrackers. The Baron thought about the idea and said to Lady Angela that it was a good idea and it would be a fine addition to the nutcracker contest. The classification of feminine nutcrackers was added to the contest.

Few of the craftsmen ever carved a female nutcracker and so only twelve of the 100 nutcrackers were feminine.

The judges had a very difficult time making a final selection of the top ten since there were so many very good nutcrackers from all the workshops and craftsmen in Lilliland. Every possible type of nutcracker imaginable seemed to be represented.

The Baron selected as the best man nutcracker an Alpine mountain climber. Lady Angela selected as the winner in the women's division a nutcracker skier in a typical little ski suit carrying a pair of skis.

Everyone was very happy with the selection and they all looked forward to a wonderful wintertime in Lilliland.