The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Türkiye Dec. 22, 2025

As Christmas approaches across Canada, each sunset gives way to a soft glow of festive lights—from window candles in Toronto homes to snowy displays in prairie towns—bringing a touch of wonder and preparing us for the holiday season. One of the world"s most beloved stage works, "The Nutcracker," is rooted in this very sense of magic. The story unfolds on Christmas Eve, when Clara receives a nutcracker as a gift. As night falls and the household drifts into sleep, the girl and her nutcracker embark on a fantastical journey—battling the Mouse King and wandering through the Land of Sweets. Among its most famous moments is the dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, accompanied by music that has become iconic.

© Anadolu/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Season of light in the City of Light
Dec. 22, 2023Ljubljana, Slovenia
Dec. 22, 2024Christmas tree at Crystal Pier, San Diego, California, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jul. 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish
Nov. 17, 2025Red fox
Feb. 21, 2024Firefall at Yosemite
Big rocks, big heads, still counting?
Apr. 12, 2025International Day of Human Space Flight
Apr. 8, 2024Total solar eclipse
Dec. 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
Lets protect our turtles
Mar. 28, 2025Black-naped monarch
Aug. 16, 2025World Honey Bee Day
Nov. 30, 2023Saint Andrews Day
The envy of postcards and snow globes
Birthplace of the Renaissance
Lest we forget
Oct. 16, 2024Fossils of belemnites and ammonites, Jurassic Coast, UK
Jun. 17, 2025Maritime forest in Cumberland Island National Seashore, Georgia, United States
Dec. 8, 2025Christmas lights on buildings of Domaso, Lake Como, Italy
Gateway to Latin America
Sunlight turning silver to gold
Underwater underground
Mar. 17, 2026Happy St. Patricks Day!
Celebrating the Scottish bard
Jan. 6, 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Oct. 9, 2023Thanksgiving Day
International Archaeology Day
Dec. 24, 2024Silent night, sparkling lights and hearts full of joy
May 4, 2025Star Wars Day
Mar. 8, 2024International Womens Day
Feb. 6, 2024Lake Tahoe
Feb. 22, 2024Bathing boxes at Brighton Beach, Australia