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

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 29, 2025Miravet, Catalonia, Spain
Jul. 14, 2025Shark Awareness Day
A warm hug in the icy north
An engineering marvel
Bridging past and present
Straight out of a fairytale
A gem in the Rockies
Nov. 11, 2023Young Peak, British Columbia
An old bridge in a new light
We’ve identified these ‘flying objects’
Apr. 17, 2024Black bear cub emerges into spring
Reddy for winter
May 3, 2025Happy International Astronomy Day!
Oct. 14, 2025Village of Oia in Santorini, Greece
Jul. 17, 2025Lavender fields in Plateau de Valensole, France
Hovering over harmonious horticulture
So close, yet so far
Jul. 29, 2024International Tiger Day
Jul. 30, 2025International Day of Friendship
Love is in the snow
Jun. 30, 2025Asteroid Day
Feb. 27, 2025International Polar Bear Day
Whos in this creepy copse?
Nov. 6, 2023Lago Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile
Sep. 10, 2024Vasco da Gama Bridge, Lisbon, Portugal
Jul. 3, 2025Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida, United States
Jul. 6, 2025Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park, United States
Oct. 6, 2025Anshun Bridge, Chengdu, China
Time to make an impression
This blue succulent is as good as gold here