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When The Nutcracker was very young, people didn't call him "The Nutcracker". His name was Soldier Hans, and he was a puppet. Soldier Hans lived with other puppets, and with Peter, the puppeteer. Together, they traveled around Germany, putting up a puppet show. One Christmas Eve, the King received the largest bag of nuts that anyone had ever seen. 'These nuts are too hard, I can't open them! Whoever opens the nuts, will be crowned as this year's King or Queen of Christmas.' The king or queen of Christmas always received a great reward, so people from all over Germany, brought different tools to try to open a nut. 'Your majesty, I brought my hammer. The hammer is as strong as a lion, so I'm sure it will open a nut.' 'Crack!' They heard. But it wasn't the nut, it was the hammer that broke in two. 'My knife is sharp like a sword, so it will open a nut with just a touch.' 'Clink!' They heard. But it wasn't the nut, it was the knife that bent from side to side. The king was losing hope, so he ordered: 'Take these nuts back to where they came from!' Suddenly, Peter, the puppeteer, appeared. He was carrying a puppet, but not just any puppet, it was Soldier Hans! 'A puppet show?' Asked the king, very mad. 'I don't want a puppet show, I want to eat a nut!' 'I didn't come here to put on a puppet show. I came because Soldier Hans' teeth are strong, and they can open any nut.' The room was silent, and everyone watched, as Peter placed a nut in Soldier Hans' mouth. 'Crack!' They heard again. But this time... It was the nut that broke in half! So on Christmas day, the King was able to eat his nuts, and he crowned Soldier Hans as the King of Christmas. From now on everyone calls him: The Little Nutcracker.