Each year over one million Australians and overseas visitors view the iconic Myer Christmas Windows to see the specially selected theme – chosen from a story book, nursery rhyme, a film or even the theatre – brought to life in an animation spectacular that ignites the imagination and Christmas spirit in all.
Each year the new theme of the Christmas Windows remains a heavily guarded secret while the clever artists, animators and craftspeople are creating their magic for over six months to bring this Christmas tradition to Myer’s many Christmas visitors.
The Nutcracker is the theme for Myer’s 55th Christmas windows, a return to the story told in the windows in 1957.
The Story of The Nutcracker
Accompanied by my images of the 2010 Melbourne Myer Christmas Windows
Narrated for us by the big man in the red suit himself, The Nutcracker is a story by E.T.A. Hoffman dating back to 1816 and begins on Christmas Eve at the Stahlbaum house in Germany. President of the Town Council, Mr. Stahlbaum and his wife are hosting the party for their family and friends. Amongst the guests are the Stahlbaum children, Clara and Fritz.
Clara’s godfather, Herr Drosselmeyer, gives presents to all the kids in attendance at the Christmas party. He gives a mouse doll to Clara’s brother, Fritz and he gives Clara a beautiful wooden nutcracker doll. Fritz is jealous of Clara’s gift so he chases her and snatches the nutcracker out of her hands, breaking it. Clara is upset with her brothers actions but Herr Drosselmeyer fixes the doll for her and Clara puts it safely under the Christmas tree and heads to bed.
In the middle of the night, Clara gets up to fetch her nutcracker from underneath the tree but ends up falling asleep there. As the clock strikes midnight, the Christmas tree begins to grow… and so does Clara’s nutcracker doll! Mice begin to march in from all corners of the room accompanied by the Mouse King. Clara can’t believe her eyes as the Mouse King tries to kidnap here. The nutcracker doll attempts to battle off the mice but he is struck down. Quickly, Clara throws her slipper at the Mouse King and defeats him.
Clara thanks her nutcracker doll by giving him a kiss. It is this kiss that turns the doll into a handsome Nutcracker Prince! He takes her to a magical fairytale kingdom but to get there, they must first go through the Enchanted Forest.
Through the Land of Snow, they are captivated by beautiful dancing snowflakes and through the Palace of the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Land of the Sweets, they are entertained by many wonderful dancers.
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When the Prince reveals how Clara saved his life, the entire court greets her with acclaim. Clara is escorted to a miniature throne to view the presentation that has been prepared in her honour. The Sugar Plum Fairy does a final dance for Clara and the Nutcracker Prince and they both join in.
Delicacies of the Kingdom of the Sweets appear. Chocolate, coffee and tea are represented by Spanish, Arabian and Chinese dancers. Other dances follow – a lively Russian trepak, dance of the merlitons, Mother Ginger and her children, the beautiful Waltz of the Flowers, and the great pas de deux by the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier.
All good things must come to an end however and so it is time for Clara to return home. She wakes up back under her Christmas tree with her nutcracker doll and wonderful memories of her magical night with her Prince.
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Overall, I was slightly disappointed with the Myer Christmas Windows this year. I really do miss the awesome Christmas themes I remember going to see when I was a kid. Wish they’d make a come back!
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Have you seen this years Myer Christmas Windows? What did you think of them?
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I think that as adults, the windows will always seem less spectacular, only because when we were kids it was all so grand and magical. I remember going to the windows and having to look up to see the display. As an adult, brilliant though the windows always were, they never quite lived up to childish memories.
Do you know if the Christmas windows are done anywhere else in the world?
Good point and I agree – I guess the way I remember them as a kid is a lot different to how I view them now.
No idea if anywhere else does them – I’d like to imagine they are unique to Melbourne, but who knows!
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