The Nutcracker
Country of Origin: Germany

erman author E. T. A. Hoffman in the 19 th Century wrote many stories in which dolls played an important roll.

Coppelia is about a mechanical doll that is so life-like that the young men of the village flirt with her. In Tales of Hoffman, there is a wind-up doll that sings until her spring winds down, making her voice fall flat as she finishes her song.

These stories of dolls living human dreams are reminiscent in Hoffman’s most famous character, The Nutcracker, from The Nutcracker and The King of Mice. Presented as a Christmas Gift to the beautiful Clara, this wooden Nutcracker doll, dressed in soldier’s finery, is quickly crushed by Clara’s jealous brother. Broken, but still loved, he is gently left beneath the families’ Christmas tree, where he comes to life at the stroke of midnight.

The villainous army of the King of Mice come upon The Nutcracker and draw their swords for battle. Reinforced by toy soldiers, The Nutcracker is victorious in the war under the Christmas tree, and finds himself to actually be a Prince, able to take his beloved Clara on a magical journey to his homeland.