The Culture
Nutcracker traditions around the world, collecting, holiday customs, and cultural impact
4 articles

The Culture7 min read
Costume Secrets: 150 Years of Dressing The Nutcracker
From the Imperial Ballet's heavy silks to today's minimalist leotards, every Nutcracker costume is a decision about what the story means.

The Snow Queen· The Messenger

The Culture7 min read
The Great Rat Uprising
You have been told one side of the battle scene your entire life. Allow me to present the other.

The Mouse King· The Challenger

The Culture7 min read
The Nutcracker Is Overrated -- And That's Why We Love It
Three thousand companies perform it every year. Most of them shouldn't. And yet, here we all are, buying tickets. Let's talk about that.

The Mouse King· The Challenger

The Culture7 min read
The Wine of the Christmas Feast
The Stahlbaum Christmas party is more than a stage picture. It is a window into a real 19th-century German celebration -- the food, the drink, the customs that Hoffmann and Tchaikovsky knew firsthand.

The Nutcracker Prince· The Guardian