The Nutcracker’s Intertwined Associations with Christmas
As anyone who has an interest in ballet, or Christmas, is aware, The Nutcracker is the ballet to watch around Christmas. This holiday story about magical toys being led by the good Nutcracker against a seven headed mouse king enthrals children and sets the imagination alive.
With armies of mice, curses, and being whisked away to magical lands, it’s definitely a brilliant ballet, allowing for wonderful movements and costumes. But what does The Nutcracker have to do with Christmas?
At a quick glance, the Nutcracker doesn’t seem to have that much to do with Christmas apart from recent tradition. At a closer look, however, there are connections to be made. The Nutcracker is essentially a story about the triumph of goodwill, acceptance and good. The Nativity also includes these elements with Jesus being born in adverse conditions. It’s a victory in the face of malevolence and corruption that Mary, Joseph and Jesus count of the acceptance and goodwill of those who assisted them. This in turn is reminiscent of older festivals marking the return of the sun and gradually longer days. Essentially, The Nutcracker is a modern retelling of ancient beliefs in good triumphing over evil.
The Nutcracker is one of many Christmas stories to carry a theme of good triumphing over evil. Rudolph, for instance, faces adversary and becomes a victor through showing goodwill and acceptance to others. This ethos of treating others kindly and with goodness in order to achieve our own triumphs has become the staple of the festive season. This is why The Nutcracker is the ballet most associated with Christmas.
Nutcrackers themselves enjoy a renewed interest every winter due to the ballet. They have a long history dating back to the 13th century, and as nuts were usually eaten in the winter months, the connection with Christmas has only increased. Over the years, nutcrackers became increasingly stylised and have become a collectors’ item.
Often, the costumes of the soldiers, and other characters, in productions of The Nutcracker reflect the East European and Germanic roots of these decorative nutcrackers, themselves having long been symbols of Christmas.
The Nutcracker is a great way to teach children the origins of Christmas stories in general, and offers a good message that they can take away not only for Christmas, but for the entire year.