noun
The Nutcracker (ballet)
Refers specifically to Tchaikovsky's ballet. The title is a proper noun and a work of art.
年末に胡桃割り人形を観に行くのが恒例です。
It's a tradition to go see The Nutcracker at the end of the year.
Compound of 胡桃 (くるみ, walnut) + 割り (わり, breaking) + 人形 (にんぎょう, doll), literally 'walnut-cracking doll'. The title is a direct translation of the original German 'Nussknacker'.