Whether it is spent sitting around a Christmas tree sipping hot cocoa or outside pelting each other with snowballs, the holidays are a time to celebrate with loved ones and reminisce about past festivities. This year, Gainesville Ballet is celebrating its past with its 40th anniversary season and a rendition of “The Nutcracker.” The famous ballet has become a yearly staple of the local dance company and has ushered in the holidays in Gainesville for more than 25 years.