English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker Dec 18, 2024

English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker

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

palette

Today in History

Dec 18, 2018A hit ballet, long after its debut
Dec 18, 2019It’s Weihnachtsmarkt time!
Dec 18, 2020A towering view of the Pale Mountains
Dec 18, 2021Full moon
Dec 18, 2022South Beach in Miami Beach, Florida
Dec 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Dec 18, 2025Celebrating 54 years of Capitol Reef National Park

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 26, 2020 The Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic
May 4, 2023Star Wars Day
May 30, 2019A day to celebrate the sun
Oct 24, 2023Füzér Castle in the Zemplén Mountains, Hungary
Jan 20, 2021Penguins can t fly!
Jul 23, 2021Let the games (finally) begin!
May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day
Aug 25, 2023National Park Service anniversary
Sep 2, 2023National Hummingbird Day
May 20, 2025World Bee Day
Aug 13, 2022Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness
Jan 18, 2025Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Jun 15, 2023Nature Photography Day
May 3, 2021It s Teacher Appreciation Week
May 11, 2021 The Crown of the Continent
Jan 6, 2024Apple Tree Day
Oct 10, 2022Indigenous Peoples Day
Feb 25, 2025Anniversary of Bryce Canyon National Park
Feb 24, 2020Wind horses carry wishes for a new year
Oct 24, 202075 years of the United Nations
Sep 8, 2022Seville, Spain
Oct 7, 2018Room at the top?
Feb 10, 2021A throng of ice and spires
Jul 16, 2021Whatever floats your boat
Dec 12, 2025National Poinsettia Day
Dec 27, 2019 Winterpret on ice
Dec 20, 2025Christmas star lanterns, Germany
Sep 30, 2018Aw shucks, it’s oyster season in Galway
Aug 17, 2020A giant relic in Java
Apr 17, 2020It s a ruff life