English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker Dec. 18, 2024

Every holiday season, as snow begins to fall and Christmas lights twinkle in the night, the story of "The Nutcracker" comes to life on stages around the world. Written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1892, this beloved ballet is based on E.T.A. Hoffmann"s fairy tale "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King." Set on Christmas Eve, it follows a young girl named Clara, who goes on an adventure with the Nutcracker Prince as they battle the evil Mouse King. Many renowned ballet companies present their rendition of this classic every year, including the New York City Ballet, the Boston Ballet and the English National Ballet, pictured here.

© Caroline Holden/Alamy Stock Photo

palette

Today in History

Gateway to Latin America
Dec. 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Dec. 18, 2025Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul. 31, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
Dec. 9, 2023Los Glaciares National Park, Patagonia, Argentina
Celebrating our looming lunar neighbour
May 18, 2024International Museum Day
Festive foliage in the garden
Dec. 29, 2024Borobudur temple, Java, Indonesia
Jul. 25, 2024Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA
Feb. 23, 2025Mount Fuji Day
Dec. 9, 2025National Llama Day
May 3, 2024The Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA
The other great barrier reef
May 8, 2025World Donkey Day
Nimble and stealthy
Poetry in suspense
Mar. 12, 2026Juvenile sunbittern displaying at nest, Ecuador
Were halfway there
Jul. 6, 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Feb. 6, 2025Waitangi Day in New Zealand
Jun. 12, 2024Big Bend National Park, Texas, USA
Oct. 13, 2023Jasper Dark Sky Festival
Oct. 27, 2025Thick-billed raven, Simien Mountains, Ethiopia
Apr. 5, 2024The Bahamas
The Coast of Death
Nov. 29, 2025Red deer stag in De Hoge Veluwe National Park, Netherlands
Sep. 14, 2023Przewalskis horses, Hustai National Park, Mongolia
How sweet to be a star, floating in the blue.
Zebras enjoying their day
Sep. 29, 2024West Cornwall Covered Bridge, Connecticut, USA
Aug. 28, 2024Paralympic Games begin in Paris
Nov. 26, 2025World Olive Tree Day