The Nutcracker ballet has become a popular Christmas tradition over the years, but it actually began as a fairytale story. It was written by E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816 and was later adapted into a ballet by Tchaikovsky. The story is set during Christmas time, and the main character, Clara, is given a Nutcracker as a gift. The Nutcracker is a magical toy that comes to life and protects Clara from the evil Mouse King.