SAYING GOODBYE TO THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS...

After the Advent fast, our family is always ready for the fun and feasting of the "Twelve Days" from December 26-January 6.

In my next couple of posts, I'll be sharing some of what we did this year (book recommendations too, of course).

On the Ninth-Night-after-Christmas, I hosted a Nutcracker Tea Party for Nine Ladies (but only the four little girls in attendance did the dancing - my five adult guests happily looked on.)

The inspirations for my party were happy memories of my daughter's many childhood performances of the ballet, and a cute pop-up book of The Nutcracker, with wonderful illustrations by Phillida Gili.  You can go here to view a short movie of the book's pop-up action.  

On the first page of the book are double doors that fold back to reveal a beautiful pop-up Christmas tree. My daughter and I tried to create the same effect in our dining room: we hung a curtain across the doorway, pulling it back with great drama for the little girls as they entered the "Land of the Sweets", complete with my daughter's hand crafted snowflake ballerinas and our Nutcracker theme decor.

After enjoying our tea and sweets, the girls put on a little show of their own.  We were able again to employ our makeshift curtain, opening it with great bravado to reveal each little dancer as she gave her performance before a rapt audience.  We watched Clara, the Dew Drop Fairy, and the Sugar Plum Fairy (the Chinese Tea Dancer got a bit of stage fright).

I hope you enjoyed a peek into our TEA party.  Now you know why my table was all decorated for yesterday's Mouseton Abbey post.   My next post:  TRAINS!

source

Printables for Nutcracker paper dolls and theatre can be found here. You can read my past posts about two other favorite Nutcracker books, one by Avril and Frances Tyrrell - here; the other by Susan Jeffers - go here. Lastly - directions for the snowflake ballerinas my daughter made are here.

SWEET FOR THE SUITE: An Award-Winning Canadian Nutcracker Story Inspired by Bears!

A SUITE Story:
Woodland Nutcracker (text adaptation by Avril Tyrrell; illustrated by Avril's daughter, Frances Tyrrell) was chosen as The Children's Picture Book of the year in 1999 by the Canadian Book Review Annual.  In her blog, Frances says, "The story was inspired by many camping trips and cottage visits in Canada's boreal forest, 'far away from highways and city lights', where one can travel for days and not meet another human being or even a camera-shy bear".

YukTuk the Polar bear, dancing to strains
of the Russian Dance - and holding a copy
of Woodland Nutcracker! [poster by Frances Tyrrell,
used with permission of the illustrator.]

"Long ago, far away from highways and city lights, where bright stars touched the tree tops and forest roots touched the edges of frozen lakes, a woodland family welcomed relatives and friends
to a Christmas Eve party in their cozy island home.
Softly falling snowflakes drifted into the cottage as the guests arrived..."

This story parallels The Nutcracker Suite Ballet: Clara is given a wonderful carved Nutcracker Bear who transforms into the dashing Nutcracker Prince.

Grandfather Bear and Clara, holding her Nutcracker Bear.

After settling a midnight battle between tin soldiers and invading field mice with a Christmas Eve truce, and giving the hungry mice food for their families, Clara and Nutcracker fly away to the Ice Palace of the Great Bear, Ursa Major.

In 2002, this particular illustration spanned over an outdoor entrance to
 a mall in Toronto, greeting shoppers and passersby!  Woodland Nutcracker
bears were also re-created as life-size figures, positioned at store entries.

At the Great Bear's palace an international cast of bears performs for Clara - juggling pandas and trapeze artist koalas and more, plus some of her dearest woodland friends. 

Mother Ginger with her junior hockey team.

I just ordered this book - so happy it's not out of print - HERE, from Frances Tyrrell's website, Treasure Seeker Studio, which also links to her lovely blog, "Fairy Lanterns", and Etsy shop.

Don't miss this book: Grandmother's Tree, also illustrated by Frances and written by her mother, Avril Tyrrell (found here, at francestyrrell.com).

A SWEET Recipe:

Source: Two Peas and their Pod

How about a little sweet, while you read about The Woodland Nutcracker (or listen to The Nutcracker Suite)?  From my Advent & Christmastide Pinterest Board: White Chocolate Peppermint M&M Cookies!











A COUPLE OF EXTRA SWEET SUITES:
Right-click HERE to see my posts on these other Nutcracker books.

"Duke Ellington's Nutcracker Suite"
by Anna Harwell Celenza

Susan Jeffers' "The Nutcracker"

A SWEET NUTCRACKER: DUKE ELLINGTON MEETS TCHAIKOVSKY!

By Anna Harwell Celenza ▪ Illustrated by Don Tate 
A perfect picture book, with CD, for the holidays!

If my books can make classical music more accessible to kids, that would be a dream come true.
-Anna Harwell Celenza, author


Before illustrating this book, I never even considered listening to Ellington music — or Tchaikovsky either, for that matter. Big band jazz? Classical? That’s for old people, was my thinking. I’ll stick to my R&B, funk, hip-hop. But research for the book led me to Ellington’s and Tchaikovsky’s music. While I worked, I be-bopped to Toot Toot Tootie Toot and Zeet Zurzday. And before long, I was downloading jazz and classical music. I became a fan of both musical genres, and I hope this book will have the same effect on kids.
-Don Tate, illustrator (click on his name to see his illustrations from the book)


This book is the story behind the story of how the great Duke Ellington and his friend and collaborator Billy Strayhorn put a jazzy 1960's spin on an 1890's classical suite and created the nuttiest Nutcracker of all:

THE NUTCRACKER

Back when my daughter was in her "ballet years", once Thanksgiving was over we were in full NUTCRACKER mode, with rehearsals and shows, costumes and tights, family and friends coming to watch...it made Advent a challenge, and I was glad it was over by mid-December so we could have our daughter back!

But she loved it, and since going to see "The Nutcracker" is a Christmas tradition for many families. it was a joy to see the smiles and happiness it brought to so many children in our community.

The Nutcracker Ballet is based on the story "The Nutcracker and the King of Mice" written by E.T.A. Hoffman. Although what is seen on the stage today is different in detail from the original story, the basic plot remains the same; the story of a young German girl who dreams of a Nutcracker Prince and a fierce battle against a Mouse King with seven heads.
When Marius Petipa had the idea to choreograph the story into a ballet, it was actually based on a revision by Alexander Dumas, a well known French author. His version reflects more of what we have come to love as the Nutcracker Ballet. (from NutcrackerBallet.net)

End of the "Battle Scene" between the Nutcracker and the Mouse King

Beautiful "Snow" scene

The Nutcracker Prince and Clara

Susan Jeffers has one of the best children's books on the market about this ballet (she intentionally based in on the ballet, not the original story).  She said it took her three years to finish.  I think you'll agree with me that the illustrations are absolutely enchanting.  Click here to read my past post about this author.


THE NUTCRACKER by Susan Jeffers