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More Christmas Stories, from Family Christmas Online™
This page contains links to Christmas classics, as well as contemporary Christmas stories that are worth reading, and especially worth reading aloud to your family during the Christmas season.
Note for 2008: We have already reviewed hundreds of stories as potential candidates for this page, but we're trying to include only stories that are well-written, family-friendly, and - when possible - uplifting, or at least amusing. These include several stories by well-known authors and some quirky gems which were once considered classics, but have become hard to track down.
We now have enough stories listed to justify sorting them into categories, but we plan to add many more, so stop back often, especially as the holiday approaches.
Classic Christmas Readings - These are not only stories about Christmas; they've also influenced the way we think about and celebrate Christmas.
 "A Visit from St. Nicholas" ('Twas the Night Before Christmas) - the poem that changed the way a nation saw St. Nicholas. Contains a history of the poem, illustrations, and links to other sites. |
 A Christmas Carol (by Charles Dickens) - The story that made compassion a part of the Victorian Christmas tradition. Our pages include illustrations and original abridged versions for reading aloud. |
 "The Gift of the Magi" (by O. Henry) - A famous Christmas-time tale with a twist, from a master story-teller. |
Original Christmas Stories - This section will contain stories that were written especially for FamilyChristmasOnline.com. They are copyrighted so you can't publish them on your web sites or printed materials without permission, but you can print them off to read to your family.
 "Small Miracles" (by Shelia Race) - In this true story, a family that has just lost a beloved grandmother needs - and receives - a small extra blessing to get through Christmas. |
Other Christmas Treasures - This collection contains other Christmas stories that we think are worth reading to our family. Many of these are by well-known authors, but are hard to find in print.
 "Babouscka, A Russian Christmas Story (author unknown) - This early retelling of an Eastern European Christmas legend has been in my family for a century. Good for reading to children.
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 "Papa Panov's Special Christmas" (by Leo Tolstoy) - A retelling of a winter-time parable by a great Russion author. |
 "Why the Evergreen Trees Never Lose their Leaves" (by Florence Holbrook) - A charming fable by a prominent early-nineteenth century promoter of public education and women's rights. Great for reading to children. |
 "In the Great Walled Country" (by Raymond Macdonald Alden) - A fable about an imaginary nation of children and the lesson they learn about gifts and giving one Christmas. Great for reading to children. |
 "The Philanthropist's Christmas" (by James Weber Linn) - A wealthy man who "gives at the office" finds reward in giving face-to-face as well. Good for reading to children. |
 "A Christmas Dream, and How it Came True" (by Louisa May Alcott) - By the author of Little Women - a jaded ten-year-old has a gentler, more charming version of Scrooge's experience. Good for reading to children, but a little longer than the two stories above. |
Longer Readings - This collection contains Christmas stories that are worth a good "sit-down."
 "The Staying Power of Sir Rohan" (by Frank Stockton) - A young country doctor, his older friend, and a stubborn draft horse get lost in a blizzard and find themselves in a strange house where people seem to know who they are. |
 "Captain Eli's Best Ear" (by Frank Stockton) - A craggy retired sea captain encounters rocky waters when he tries to stage a Christmas celebration that includes a widow he's been keeping his eye on. |
 "Beasley's Christmas Party" (by Booth Tarkington) - A reporter marvels as the town's leading citizen confuses friends and foes alike with elaborate games of "pretend." |
 "A Country Christmas" (by Louisa May Alcott) - In the style of the author's Little Women; in the late 1860s, a young woman spending the winter with country relations invites two city friends to join her for a New England country Christmas celebration. |
Scalawags' Christmas - This collection contains Christmas stories about rascals and roughnecks - they're not all warm and fuzzy, but they are family-friendly and clever and/or amusing.
 "Christmas by Injunction" (by O. Henry) - A grizzled prospector's misguided efforts to bring Christmas to a mining town brings him an unexpected gift instead. |
 "Dancing Dan's Christmas" (by Damon Runyon) - A small-time hood's extravagant Christmas prank reaps unexpected rewards. Warning: Includes gangsters and excessive consumption of alcohol. |
 "A Chaparral Christmas Gift" (by O. Henry) - A gunslinger plots to take revenge on his romantic rival on Christmas Eve. |
 "The Cop and the Anthem" (by O. Henry) - Although this is not exactly a Christmas story, it often gets into Christmas collections because of the cold weather that starts the chain of events. In this story, a bum's cynical plan for getting through the cold winter months seems thwarted at every turn. |
Humor - This collection contains Christmas stories that are simply written to be funny.
 "Father Christmas" (by A.A. Milne) - The narrator blames a streak of extravagant gift-buying on a wooden Santa who comes to life in a toy store. |
 "The Making of a Christmas Story" (by A.A. Milne) - a hack writer creating a cliche-ridden Christmas story on a deadline argues with his editor. |
If you've been reading our pages, you know that we have big things planned, and a lot on our plate, so keep checking back. And contact
us with any questions or suggestions you have in the meantime.
Paul and Shelia Race
www.familychristmasonline.com
To return to the Family Christmas Online™ Home Page, click here.
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"Miranda's Christmas Visitor"