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This group provides a 'Santa's Workshop' for collectors of International Santas and other Santa collectibles to meet and exchange information. All are welcome to join.

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FAVORITE CHRISTMAS STORY

THE NUTCRACKER SUITE

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E.T.A. Hoffman first wrote the famous play "Nussknacker und Mausekönig" of the nutcracker and King Mouse in 1814. In 1845, the famous French novelist Alexander Dumas adapted it to a children's play to infuse more optimism and happiness. The story is about a young girl named Clara. Her doting uncle Drosselmeyer gifts her a magical and mysterious nutcracker that she always keeps by her side. One night, when she was sleeping, the evil Mouse King came and tried to take her to his kingdom.

Then, the Nutcracker Prince sprang to life and fought the Mouse King and rescued Clara. The play becomes even more interesting and fantasy runs wild from here. After his victory, Clara goes with the Nutcracker Prince to the land of magic and dreams. She visits the land of the dolls and that of the Snow Queen where she met snowflakes of all types. She also goes through the candy land and kids love to hear the sweets from all over the world that she met there. The beautiful flowers and the sugar plum fairy capture their imagination. On Christmas day, Clara wakes up to find herself back at home, surrounded by her family.

in 1892, Marius Petipa, the first ballet master to the Tsar of Russia requested Piotr Tchaikovsky to compose the music for a ballet based upon the play, and he did an excellent work on it. Tchaikovsky used many different and unusual instruments such a celesta with its bell-like sound in the ballet and kept it very secret until it was first performed because he was worried that somebody might steal his idea before he could use it. The ballet became one of the most famous ballets of all time.

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Carol in central Illinois 8/04