Classic Christmas Stories

Just about a week ago I posted my selection of Christmas books and then something hit me! “How can we talk about Christmas reading without including some of the best and most famous classics?!” Each title fills me with warmth (like a sip of mulled wine *wink wink*).

Whether you’ve never read them or if you read them too many times, still make sure to flip through these amazing Christmas fairy tales. Let’s get started!

1 – The first and probably the most famous classic story is <insert drum roll sound here>  «A Christmas Carol» by Charles Dickens. Don’t think a blurb is at all necessary as the story is so well known by everyone. However, since it’s Christmas season, I decided to me nice and insert one anyway (how considerate of me, right?)

With its characters exhibiting many qualities ― as well as failures ― often ascribed to Dickens himself, the imaginative and entertaining tale relates Ebenezer Scrooge’s eerie encounters with a series of spectral visitors. Journeying with them through Christmases past, present, and future, he is ultimately transformed from an arrogant, obstinate, and insensitive miser to a generous, warm-hearted, and caring human being.

Written by one of England’s greatest and most popular novelists, A Christmas Carol has come to epitomize the true meaning of Christmas.

Amazon

One of the greatest things about these classics is that you can totally download it for free to your Kindle or other reading devices AND (more great things incoming) they are under 100 pages long, meaning that you can devour them all in one evening and finally reach your GoodReads goal for this year!

Also, once you are done with the book, don’t forget to put A Christmas Carol cartoon on because it’s the definition of festive movie!

2 – The second classic children’s book that I associated with Christmas is «The Polar Express» by Chris Van Allsburg. And even though you will need to pay to get it (unless you borrow it from the library) it’s totally worth it! The illustrations are gorgeous and the story will remind you of what is it like to be a child during Christmas time.

This one is also one of my favourite cartoons to watch at any time really. A great way to spend family Christmas night – watching a beautiful animated movie!

3 – «Little Match Girl» by Hans Christian Anderson is a “heartwarming story of Adriana and her grandmother, who travel to a new world in the hopes of finding a better life. But suddenly Adriana’s dreams are shattered, and she’s left with only a flute, a box of matches, and her faith in God to fulfill her dreams. A wonderful story full of compassion, love, and faith.” (Excerpt from Amazon)

 

Unfortunately, I couldn’t find a free version on Kindle, but! the whole book of Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tales costs less than a dollar on Amazon. Definitely worth it, besides, I think most of people already have those huge books full of fairy tales from their childhood.

4 – Another absolute favourite of mine AND COMPLETELY FREE is «The Gift of the Magi» by O. Henri.  It’s beautiful and deserves all the praises that people give it.

One dollar and eighty-seven cents is all the money Della has in the world to buy her beloved husband a Christmas present. She has nothing to sell except her only treasure — her long, beautiful brown hair. Set in New York at the turn of the twentieth century, this classic piece of American literature tells the story of a young couple and the sacrifices each must make to buy the other a gift. Beautiful, delicate watercolors by award-winning illustrator Lisbeth Zwerger add new poignancy and charm to this simple tale about the rewards of unselfish love.

Amazon

And that will be it for today! I hope you enjoyed my classics suggestions (fast, easy and beautiful reads).

Let me know in the comments down below what other classic / children’s Christmas stories are your favourite to read during this time of the year.

With love,

Alex