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A timeless story about the Nutcracker of Germany
The Nutcracker
What you need to know before your trail
Written in 1816 by the German Romantic E. T. A. Hoffmann for his children, nephews and nieces, The Nutcracker captures better than any other story a child’s wonder at Christmas. Since its publication, it has inspired hundreds of artists and adaptations, most notably the legendary ballet, scored by Russian composer Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky. Today, the story – and its enchanting images of sugar plums and nutcrackers, mistletoe and the Kingdom of the Dolls – continues to cast its fantastical spell on readers of all ages.
Travel Guide
The Nutcracker in Germany
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” (German: Nussknacker und Mausekönig) is a story written in 1816 by German author E. T. A. who was born in Königsberg (now part of Russia)
In 1892, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky turned Alexandre Dumas père’s adaptation of the story into the ballet The Nutcracker. The New York Ballet adaptation is perhaps the most famous in the world.
The towns most associated with the Nutcrackers are Sonneburg and Sieffen where they were originally made and now any city in Germany where they are sold on Christmas markets.
According to German legend, nutcrackers were given as keepsakes to bring good luck to your family and protect your home. A nutcracker is said to represent power and strength and helps protect your family from evil spirits and danger. The figure bares its teeth to the evil spirits and brings good luck and goodwill to the house’s inhabitants.
Nutcrackers are also used to symbolise the ‘Cycle of Life’, As the seed of a nut falls to the ground, it grows into a strong tree, living over hundreds of years nourishing the woodcutters and those who create ornaments from the wood. They then grow more trees and the cycle continue
Booktrail Boarding Pass: The Nutcracker
Destination : Germany Author/Guide: E.T.A. Hoffmann Departure Time: Timeless
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