The Nutcracker performed by the Turkish State Opera and Ballet in Ankara 22 Dec 2025

As Christmas approaches, each sunset gives way to a glow of festive lights, 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, in the midst of holiday cheer, when Clara receives a nutcracker as a gift. As night falls and the household drifts into sleep, the little 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—the ruler of the Land of Sweets—accompanied by music that has become iconic.

© Anadolu/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

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

More Desktop Wallpapers:

12 Apr 2024Arches National Park, Utah, USA
World Population Day
24 May 2025European Day of Parks
24 Oct 2025Night view of the RMS Queen Mary, Long Beach, California, United States
Look up, incoming…
Tune into International Jazz Day
26 Nov 2025World Olive Tree Day
26 Aug 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
5 Apr 2024The Bahamas
Eagles assemble!
26 Apr 2024Tree of Life, Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
30 Jun 2025Asteroid Day
7 Nov 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
31 Dec 2024Hogmanay
Where is this historical bridge?
Germanys green heart
22 Apr 2026Earth Day
Ahead of the curve
26 Jan 2025European beech forest, Belgium
27 Nov 2023Rio Negro
9 Jun 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
6 Jan 2026Nuuk, Greenland
Where the humpback whale sings
5 Mar 2025Khao Sok National Park in Thailand
19 Aug 2025The Three Musketeers Falls at Iguazú Falls, Argentina
15 Jun 2024Trooping the Colour
Staying in the loop
13 Sep 2024Point Reyes National Seashore, California, USA
13 Jun 2025Vila Franca Islet, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Stairway to heaven?