http://www.pietisten.org/authors/SchererJohnL.html http://www.pietisten.org/authors/SchererJohnL.html en-us http://www.pietisten.org//vii/4/soviet_christmas_russian.html http://www.pietisten.org//vii/4/soviet_christmas_russian.html Petr Chaikovskii’s “Nutcracker,” first performed in St. Petersburg in December, 1892, was set on Christmas Eve. In trying to destroy religion, the Soviets even changed the children’s party and Clara’s dream of dancing toys and nutcracker soldiers from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve.