I would say that if you expect to sell your nutcrackers some day, or even if you think your children will want to dispose of them when they inherit them, then I would say definitely keep the boxes. If they are going to be in your family as something you enjoy having out all year, then keeping the boxes is not necessary. If you only have your nutcrackers out at Christmas time, or for special occasions, then you will want to keep the boxes to store them in. I do not keep the boxes for our collection in the museum, and neither does Claudia Davis, who has the largest collection in the world. And where are you going to store the boxes? The attic is a good place, nice and warm and dry. And they can be folded up.