English National Ballet performing The Nutcracker Dec. 18, 2024

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 Stock Photo

palette

Today in History

Gateway to Latin America
Dec. 18, 2023Capitol Reef National Park, Utah
Dec. 18, 2025Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

40 years of recovery
Nov. 30, 2023Saint Andrews Day
Jul. 15, 2025Perseid meteor shower over Nevada
Jun. 28, 2024Stonewall uprising anniversary
The only island in Lake Tahoe
Santa slalom
Oct. 12, 2023Old barn and canola field, Palouse region, Idaho
Aug. 11, 2025Village of Santa Maddalena, Dolomites, Italy
May 17, 2024Endangered Species Day
What are these colourful insects?
Colours of spring
Oct. 9, 2025Space Week isnt over yet!
Aug. 6, 2024Molokini crater, Maui, Hawaii, USA
Oct. 15, 2025National Mushroom Day
Oct. 18, 2025International Archaeology Day
Oct. 3, 2024Taj Mahal, Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India
Jan. 20, 2024Macaroni penguins, Drake Passage, Chile
Shell-ebrating sea turtles
Sep. 12, 2024World Dolphin Day
Feb. 4, 2024Devetashka Cave, Devetaki, Bulgaria
Sep. 12, 2023North Sea at sunset, Norddorf, Germany
A beautiful labyrinth
May 14, 2025Porto Flavia, Sulcis-Iglesiente, Sardinia, Italy
Sanctuary among the trees
Nov. 3, 2024International Day for Biosphere Reserves
Aug. 27, 2024Young black caiman, Tambopata National Reserve, Peru
Nov. 7, 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
Oct. 14, 2024Fishing boats at Coco Beach in Goa, India
Aug. 26, 2023Berlin Cathedral and Museum Island, Berlin
Dec. 27, 2025Plate ice along Lake Superior, Grand Marais, Minnesota, United States