The Christmas story of the 19th century German romantic E. T. A. Hoffmann “The Nutcracker” delights and delights more than one generation of children and adults. Even 200 years later - after all, that’s exactly how long has passed since its first publication (1816) - it excites our imagination. Despite the fabulous nature of the narrative, the author for the first time depicts the reality of the era, and not some unknown fictional world. Once upon a time, the story of living people and animated toys and the touching love of young Marie for the poor Nutcracker inspired the creation of the ballet of the same name by the great Russian composer P.I. Tchaikovsky. The publication is also unique in that it presents the full version of Hoffmann’s tale.