For most of us, Christmastime is synonymous with The Nutcracker. It was likely our first (and sometimes only) exposure to classical ballet, and with good reason! This beloved holiday tale has delighted audiences for more than a century. But did you know it wasn’t always so popular? Or that the musical score was composed around 75 years after the original story was written? Read on for this week’s TP Top Five: Fun Facts about The Nutcracker, with a BONUS Top Five: Nutcracker activities to do at home this holiday season!
Five Fun Facts about The Nutcracker
1. In its initial debut in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892, The Nutcracker ballet wasn’t a hit with audiences or with critics. While the music took off with popularity right away, the ballet production didn’t find success until almost 100 years later. (And it didn’t premiere in the United States and other western countries until the 1940s.)
2. The New York Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker uses about 500 pounds of paper confetti to create the iconic snowstorm, splits 500 bobby pins among its performers, and features 150 different costumes (including the Sugar Plum Fairy’s tutu, which uses seven different layers of tulle in the skirt, and Candy Cane costumes with 144 jingle bells a piece).
3. While most of us know her as Clara or Claire, the eldest Stahlbaum who saves the Nutcracker prince is depicted with many names, depending on where in the world you’re seeing the performance. In the original story, she’s named Maria or Marie, and Clara is the name of one of her dolls. In Germany, she sometimes goes by Marichen. In Russia, she was given the name Masha.
4. The Nutcracker Suite was composed by Peter Tchaikovsky, who also composed the music for Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. Tchaikovsky passed away at the age of 53, in November 1893, making The Nutcracker the last ballet he ever composed (and tragically he didn’t live to see its success).
5. The Nutcracker is based on a story written in 1816 by E.T.A. Hoffman called “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King.” The story is set around a family’s Christmas Eve party in Germany, where children are often given nutcrackers as holiday gifts because they’re believed to be good luck.
Five Fun Nutcracker Activities to do at Home
1. Nutcracker Story Time
If you have a copy of this beloved classic handy, grab your favorite music-playing device and gather around for story time! Read the book aloud, pausing to play some iconic musical selections from the story’s famous scenes. Kids (and adults) are challenged to interpret each piece differently, according to the story and the mood/tempo of the music, then freeze where they are to hear the next part of the story.
2. Waltz of the Snowflakes
Recreate this classic scene with your own paper snowflakes! There are lots of great tutorials out there on Pinterest and YouTube, so pick your favorite and get to work on your very own winter wonderland. Then waltz away with your handiwork!
For older students: Learn the choreography linked above, or try your hand at making one of these paper snowflake ballerinas.
3. Paper Crowns
Why not add some headpieces to your at-home Nutcracker production? Much like the snowflakes, there are plenty of step-by-step tutorials for making paper crowns out there, with lots of different styles to suit each role. Create a crown worthy of the Nutcracker Prince, one for the Mouse King, and even a tiara for the Sugar Plum Fairy.
For older students: Incorporate a King of Kings devotion.
4. Family Movie Night
Did you know you can watch The Nutcracker ballet from the comfort of home? If a live performance isn’t in the cards this year, you can stream the ballet, performed by the National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Mari El, right here on YouTube. Throw on your paper crowns, grab your favorite Christmas pajamas and make a night of it with your favorite Land of Sweets treats!
5. Bake some Sugar Plums
Speaking of sweet treats, why not add the famous fairy’s namesake to your holiday menu? There’s plenty of recipes out there on the internet (these look delicious), and this treat is a candy that’s naturally sweet. It’s a classic Christmas snack we bet you’ve never tried, so get in The Nutcracker spirit with a brand new cooking tradition.