Christmas Stories

• The Little Match Girl

  by Hans Christian Andersen

  A sad and beautiful story to remind us all to be thankful and charitable and to appreciate what we have at Christmas time.

• The Gift of the Magi

  by O. Henry

  A young married couple-- rich in love, poor in money-- buy each other gifts and teach all of us about sacrifice and giving.

• A Christmas Carol

  by Charles Dickens

  One of the most enduring Christmas stories of all time, a morality tale of the bitter old miser, Ebeneezer Scrooge, who has a change of heart after visits from the ghosts of Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come.

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  The Elves and the Shoemaker

  by The Brothers Grimm

  A poor shoemaker and his wife are down to their last piece of leather when their fortunes change thanks to help from talented elves.

• The Fir-Tree

  by Hans Christian Andersen

  A tree can't wait to grow up and achieve great things, rather than appreciate the present.

• The Last Dream of Old Oak

  by Hans Christian Andersen

  An unlikely conversation between and old oak and a mayfly that delightfully illustrates the wonder of perspective.

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  Christmas Jenny

  by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  "Bein' a missionary to robins an' starvin' chippies an' little deaf an' dumb children is jest as good as some other kinds, an' that's what she is."

• A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to be True

  by Louisa May Alcott

  A children's take on Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Alcott shares a delightful story from a young girl's point of view.

• Christmas; or, The Good Fairy

  by Harriet Beecher Stowe

  A precious story about the joy of thoughtful gift-giving and the appreciation of recipients.

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  Papa Panov's Special Christmas

  by Leo Tolstoy

  An old man welcomes strangers into his home, a story of compassion and kindness.

• The Night Before Christmas: A Morality

  by William Dean Howells

  Clarence Fountain is quite cynical about the pretense of self-deception about Santa Claus as his children grow older; that is, until his family leads him to a complete change of heart.

• Merry Christmas

  by Stephen Leacock

  A man struggling to write a Christmas story gets a visit from Father Time to discuss what's wrong with Christmas, then is treated to Father Christmas' arrival, rekindling his true belief in the season's magic.

• A Stolen Christmas

  by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  Marg'ret had given up hope of "getting up a notch" in life, and now had to resolve her remorse for stealing that parcel.

• The Gospel According to Joan

  by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  Who was teaching whom about charity and generosity? Freeman delivers some unexpected twists, a perfect holiday story about compassion for those in need.

• The Other Wise Man

  by Henry van Dyke

  This is the story of the fourth wise man who did not arrive with his brethren and whose desires were denied, yet accomplished.

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  Cousin Tribulation's Story

  by Louisa May Alcott

  A heartwarming story about an oatmeal parade and "angel-children" who help a family in need.

• What the Bell Saw and Said

  by Louisa May Alcott

  Six bell spirits gather to assess the world's state of affairs on Christmas Eve; Alcott's State of the Union address, had she occasion to deliver one.

• Christmas at Red Butte

  by Lucy Maud Montgomery

  By the author of Anne of Green Gables, this story is set in the harsh plains of Saskatchewan. Sometimes the best times come at the hardest times.

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  Whistling Dick's Christmas Stocking

  by O. Henry

  A story about a railway tramp who retrieves a package from a young lady's wagon.

• A Country Christmas

  by Louisa May Alcott

  Sophie invites her dear friend Emily for a real old-fashioned Christmas frolic away from the city.

• How Christmas Came to the Santa Maria Flats

  by Elia W. Peattie

  How will Santa deliver presents? The lease says no peddlers or agents can enter the apartment building-- how will be the most famous toy peddler get in?

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  Captain Eli's Best Ear

  by Frank Stockton

  "If I'd only slept with my hard-o'-hearin' ear up," he said to himself, "I'd never have heard it."

• The First Christmas of New England

  by Harriet Beecher Stowe

  Stowe describes the arrival of the Mayflower and the settlers' very first holiday celebrations.

• The Christmas Ghost

  by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

  Jane White came to realize that love and kindness were not such strangers upon the earth as she had thought.

• Betty's Bright Idea

  by Harriet Beecher Stowe

  Celebrating the joy of giving, Betty brainstorms thoughtful gifts each recipient will appreciate the most.

• Christmas in Poganuc

  by Harriet Beecher Stowe

  Dolly is too young to join the other colonialists as they gather at the church Christmas greens to celebrate.

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  Christmas

  by Washington Irving

  The infamous headless horseman author offers a lovely Christmas reverie about its festivities.

• Uncle Richard's New Year Dinner

  by Lucy Maud Montgomery

  Nothing melts an old family feud like a home cooked dinner from the heart to start the year off right. By the author of Anne of Green Gables.

• What Christmas is as We Grow Older

  by Charles Dickens

  A personal and optimistic view savoring Christmas as a time for reconciliation of our losses and hopes.

• A Christmas Tree

  by Charles Dickens

  An old man reminisces about his childhood Christmases.

• How the Captain Made Christmas

  by Thomas Nelson Page

  A train conductor shares memories about home and promises of love on this Christmas ride to New Orleans.

• At Christmas Time

  by Anton Chekhov

  Illiterate parents commission a letter which delights their estranged married daughter in St. Petersburg.

• Vanka

  by Anton Chekhov

  An orphaned boy writes a letter to his grandfather on Christmas Eve, sharing his sparse but warm remembrances of family.

• A Christmas-Eve Suit

  by Edward Payson Roe

  A young, eligible lawyer tries to decide which lady will suit him best.

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  A Russian Christmas Party

  by Leo Tolstoy

  The family is on the brink of ruin, so Nicolas' mother pushes an arranged marriage, though he loves a poor girl.

• Susie Rolliffe's Christmas

  by Edward Payson Roe

  Answering the call after Bunker Hill, Zeke thought fighting the British would be like an expedition with the same elements as a bear hunt; then Susie got his attention.

• Christmas Eve in War Times

  by Edward Payson Roe

  This story concerns the fate of Private Anson Marlow, Union soldier.

• A Burglar's Christmas

  by Willa Cather

  In an unpredictable and unforgiving world, sometimes deception and permission may be the greatest gifts of all.

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  A College Santa Clause

  by Ralph Henry Barbour

  A story of friendship and compassion when classmates spend the holidays on campus.

• The Thin Santa Claus

  by Ellis Parker Butler

  There's chickens stolen, toober-chlosis bugs, and now Mrs. Gratz may actually believe in Santa after all.

• Keeping Christmas

  by Henry van Dyke

  An inspiring Christmas Day sermon.

• The First Christmas Tree

  by Henry van Dyke

  Saint Boniface translates a parable of a soldier into the realities of life.

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  A Dream-story: The Christmas Angel

  by Henry van Dyke

  A story about what angels do: "There is no cure for this evil, but by the giving of greater force to the good hand."

• A Christmas Sermon

  by Robert Louis Stevenson

  "If we require so much of ourselves, shall we not require much of others?"

• The Christmas Wreck

  by Frank Stockton

  No use being in a hurry for a good wind or Christmas, both will come when they're ready.

Off-Beat Christmas Stories

• An Unfinished Christmas Story

  by O. Henry

  O. Henry's Christmas reverie and sharp digs leave us to finish his story.

• Reginald's Christmas Revel

  by H.H. Munro (SAKI)

  Reginald's not getting on Santa's "good" list after this caper.

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  A Chaparral Christmas Gift

  by O. Henry

  A shoot-em-up story featuring Frio Kid and a memorable Christmas wedding. Will he be back this year?

• Christmas by Injunction

  by O. Henry

  A prospector named Cherokee thought he hit a gold vein and invited all his friends to start a town.

• Reginald on Christmas Presents

  by H.H. Munro (SAKI)

  When will Reginald's relatives get gift-giving right?

• A Hint for Next Christmas

  by A.A. Milne

  Best known for creating Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne makes a strong case for travel-size gifts.

• Bertie's Christmas Eve

  by H.H. Munro (SAKI)

  Munro's wit and satire of Edwardian society play out perfectly in the Steffinks' cow-house at Christmas.

• The Christmas Present

  by Richmal Crompton

  A peculiar and amusing Christmas story. What's that, you say? I can't hear you. Sometimes the best Christmas present doesn't cost a penny.

• Peace on Earth, Good-Will to Dogs

  by Eleanor Hallowell Abbott

  If you don't like dogs or Christmas stories, don't read this story! Flame is a minister's daughter who is eager to help the new neighbor.

Christmas Books

• Little Women

  by Louisa May Alcott

  The coming-of-age story of the March sisters Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy as they grow up during the Civil War.

• A Christmas Carol

  by Charles Dickens

  The classic story of the Christmas Eve transformation of the bitter and miserly Ebenezer Scrooge after being visited by ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Yet to Come.

• The Chimes

  by Charles Dickens

  Dickens' novella is a goblin story of some bells that rang an old year out and a new year in.

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  The Cricket on the Hearth

  by Charles Dickens

  Dickens' novella is a fairy tale of home, delivered in three chirps (chapters).

• The Romance of a Christmas Card

  by Kate Douglas Wiggin

  Wonderful events unfold when a minister's wife creates Christmas cards inspired by her friend.

• Old Christmas

  by Washington Irving

  The first chapter reads as a stand-alone story or enjoy the whole book. Christmas is the season for "the fire of hospitality in the hall" and "the flame of charity in the heart."

Christmas Poems

• Christmastide

  by H.P. Lovecraft

  An exceedingly bright and cheery poem (especially for Lovecraft).

• The Three Kings

  by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  A beautiful poem describing the events leading to the adoration of the Magi.

• Christmas Trees

  by Robert Frost

  A poem with perfect New England sensibilities, a city man helps a Vermonter see the value of his trees.

• Carol

  by Kenneth-Grahame

  The author of The Wind in the Willows offers a joyful Christmas poem.

• Christmas Carol

  by Sara Teasdale

  Teasdale's poem of how the kings, shepherds, and wise men all converged to hear the angels sing all night at the Nativity.

• Christmas Bells

  by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

  Ring in the holidays with Longfellow's festive poem.

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  The True Meaning of Christmas (recited by Linus)

  In this unforgettable scene, Linus recites scripture from the Book of Luke to explain what Christmas is all about in A Charlie Brown Christmas.

• Christmas in India

  by Rudyard Kipling

  Christmas is different when celebrated away from true Home.

• Auld Lang Syne

  by Robert Burns

  Meaning "old long since" this poem is usually sung to bring in the new year or other sentimental occasions.

Traditional Christmas Carols

Traditional Christmas Carols