The holiday season is one that unites families and builds memories. Childhood memories are made up of moments and events that mark and influence your child for years to come. The holiday season is that special time of the year that can be used to reinforce family ties and relationships, and strengthen them with traditions, both general and particular. Celebrating cultural and religious traditions is a highlight of the holiday season, marking key moments for your child as he or she shares in the general celebration of the holidays with all their friends, and particular traditions with the family.
Each family, each parent, each child has a special individuality that makes them unique. The heirlooms and ornament collections, the special recipes, the particular prayers, and the traditional activities make each family have their own way of celebrating the holiday season. For example, in our family, we always play board games on Christmas day, we have special ways for exchanging presents and gifts, we go see a blockbuster holiday movie and… we see the Nutcracker ballet.
We have seen many versions of the Nutcracker and enjoy the differences between each one. Professional and student companies alike have interpretations and presence that ritualize the holiday season and make it more special for everyone. In our area of South Florida alone there are more than 20 Nutcrackers or selections of the Nutcracker being offered each year. It is estimated that worldwide more than 1000 different companies present this classic yearly, but what makes this late 19th century show have such staying power and influence on our traditions?
The full story of the Nutcracker, as written in 1816 by a Prussian Lawyer by the name of E.T.A Hoffman, is a tale that mysteriously intertwines fantasy, dreams and magic. The central character is Clara (sometimes called Marie), that receives from her godfather, Dr. Drosselmeier, a Nutcracker doll on a Christmas eve. She immediately develops a special attachment to the odd doll and takes care of it protectively. Strange happenings start occurring to Clara that night, with mice armies and an ugly seven-headed Rat King menacing her and her doll. The next day, her godfather tells her the story of a princess cursed by the Rat Queen, and how an ingenious clockmaker discovered how to break the spell: a young man that had never shaved had to crack a magical Crik-crak nut with his teeth, give the kernel to the princess, and take seven steps backwards without stumbling. Of course, they find the nut and the young man (who happens to be the clockmaker’s nephew), and as he is taking his seventh step backwards after handing the nut’s kernel to the princess, the Rat Queen makes him stumble. He falls and instantly is transformed into a wooden toy. And that is why nutcrackers are so bearded and scraggly looking. The story continues as Clara realizes that the story her uncle has told her, and her dreams, are connected. By giving her nutcracker a sword, he is able to slay the Rat King, but this does not break the spell. A young woman must love him despite his appearances before he can become a young man again. After the victory over the Rat King, Clara and the Nutcracker go visit his Kingdom, the land of sweets, to celebrate and dances are performed for the occasion. In the end, Clara loves him, and the nutcracker disappears to become, lo-and-behold, Drosselmeier’s nephew.
The magical tale was made into a ballet which premiered in Russia in December 1892, making it part of the holidays from the beginning. It was first performed in the US in 1940, and since then it has grown to become part of the season throughout the world.
Going to a ballet during the holidays has become thus a part of celebrating the spirit of the season. There are other entrancing performances besides the Nutcracker for you and your child, dance shows and musical theatre. By making part of your holiday family tradition to go to a show, you establish a foundation and love for the arts that enriches the bonding season for you and your child.