What do you know about The Original Nutcracker?

(This post does contain affiliate links) Do you know who wrote the original story of the Nutcracker? When did it become a ballet? Why is it a Christmas classic? How many versions are there? I have researched to find out more about the Original Nutcracker – my daughter says that is what I do, but I want to share some information about it with you. While you may know the music, and most of us do, the first time The Nutcracker was turned into a two-act ballet was in 1892. The choreographing was by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanova, and the now famous score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

Who Wrote the Original Nutcracker?

However, what you probably don’t know is that the Original Nutcracker story was written years early in 1816. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King was a story by E.T.A. Hoffman. He was a German-born in Prussia, which is now Russia, and he was a lawyer and judge. His original story was much darker than the version we now know. His story of The Nutcracker and the Mouse King is about Marie Stahlbaum’s favorite Christmas toy, the Nutcracker, which comes to life and, after defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, takes her to a magical kingdom of dolls. 

The original version of the Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffmann

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King translated into French

The original story was translated into French. The world would probably not know of The Nutcracker if it weren’t for Alexandre Dumas. Dumas is best known for his novels The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. He was a Frenchman who took Hoffman’s original story and translated it 1844. Dumas’ version was not as dark and scary as the original version, and this is the story we love today.

The Nutcracker by Alexandre Dumas

In 1892, the Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky wrote the music for the classic that continues to be performed across the world every Christmas season. Tchaikovsky’s ballet premiered at the Mariinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg in December 1892.

 Music of The Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky

Although Tchaikovsky’s original ballet was not successful, his 20-minute suite from the ballet was. What is not known is why the complete Nutcracker has enjoyed popularity. Since the 1960s the Nutcracker has been performed during the Christmas season in North America with some ballet companies receiving over 40% of their annual ticket revenues from performances of The Nutcracker.

What are the differences between Hoffmann’s and Dumas’ Nutcracker?

This classic song and ballet have been performed almost exclusively closer to Dumas’ version than Hoffmann’s. However, purists believe this has done the original story damage. 

In the Hoffman original version, Marie lives with very strict parents who believe that she should not be so childlike and imaginative. Marie’s last name, Stahlbaum, means “steel tree,” and her parents are unbending. By the end of the Hoffmann story, Marie goes off into another world. This is a world that she chooses. 

But in Dumas’ version and the ballet, it is almost like it is a dream. Dancing and merriment abound, and it is amusing. The names are changed. Marie becomes Klara; The Stahlbaum become the Silberhaus “Silver house”. Everything is just a little nicer and little more upbeat. 

The Many Versions of The Nutcracker

Most book versions take their translations from either Hoffmann or Dumas. There are so many different picture book versions, but most of them just differ in the illustrations. Before this Christmas season, Read Hoffmann’s original version and the Dumas version.

I then recommend that you find a local ballet production, or visit New York City to see The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center. There are multiple movie versions out that, both animated and live-action. There is even a Barbie Nutcracker movie. My family has watched a couple different ones over the years. However, this year we intend to see a ballet version of The Nutcracker. 

We have already seen Disney’s Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and you can read by review HERE. It is interesting to see how Disney portrays Clara and this fantasy world in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. For Disney Activity and Coloring Sheets, visit Crazy Adventures in Parenting. Are you as excited to see it as I am? Let me know below!