Christmas Reading List

Why, on the 30th of December, am I publishing a post on Christmas literary recommendations? Firstly because, in the words of Bob Cratchit, I was making rather merry—and still am! Hence the short post, as well. Secondly because (and this is for another post), Christmas has not ended! In the Church (outside of which Christmas is in vain), it is an Octave celebration, and so the highest day of Christmas is in a sense actually the 8th day of Christmas: January 1st, the Feast of the Mother of God. Furthermore, in the West we have the tradition of the twelve days of Christmas, and on top of that, Christmastide traditionally goes until February 2nd, the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus, or Candlemas. It is true that under the new calendar Christmastide has been shortened, but I prefer to celebrate using the old calendar, not only because I know of no reason why it should have been changed, but because it is important that, just as Eastertide is always longer than Lent, so Christmastide ought always to be longer than Advent. This has obvious spiritual and eternal implications. All this is to say: You may well, and possibly ought to, celebrate Christmas until February! Certainly for another couple weeks or so. And for me, one of the ways I avail myself of the Spirit of Christmas is by what I read. Without further ado, here are some stories I like to read every year:

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. You cannot beat this, in my opinion. This story was the first of Dickens I read, and led me to fall in love with his writing. Clever, lovely, wonderful. The old 1951 Scrooge film was very good, but the book is so much better. This would be a great story to read aloud as a family. If you prefer to listen, Tim Curry’s audiobook production is amazing, and I have listened to it twice. The story goes into what it means to be a human being among our fellow men, what mortality demands of us, and what our earthly endeavors ought to consist of.
2. The Burglar’s Christmas by Willa Cather. Not a long story, and it gets right to the point. It is, in essence, the story of the prodigal son, but with the father’s role replaced by the mother’s. It has great insight into the maternal nature of the Holy Spirit, whether Cather knew it or not.
3. The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, by E. T. A. Hoffman. This is the original story, whence came the ballet. It is delightful fantasy. Alexandre Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo, adapted it as well. I am currently reading his version, and much enjoying it! Also, if you haven’t seen the ballet, I highly encourage you to! It is truly beautiful.
4. The following I found through the audiobook collection entitled: A Vintage Christmas: A Collection of Classic Stories and Poems. I recommend all of the stories therein (the narrators vary in skill in this particular collection), but will list some of my favourites, separating them by author. First, my favourites were those by L. M. Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables. The three I most enjoyed were: Christmas at Red Butte, A Christmas Inspiration, and Aunt Cyrilla’s Christmas Basket. These are all short, and lovely, sweet, delightful.
5. Lousia May Alcott’s (author of Little Women) A Country Christmas and A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to Be True. These, along with the next author’s, contain more clear morals and values being impressed upon the reader, which isn’t always my preference, but they are done well. Alcott’s writing is lovely. A Country Christmas contains good values that many of us have lost, and the other story, if taken to heart, would make our Christmas celebrations much richer and happier.
6. Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Christmas; or, The Good Fairy. Much like Alcott’s A Christmas Dream, but I didn’t prefer it as much as Alcott’s. Christmas in Pogunac is another that I enjoyed. I think it is better and more interesting than The Good Fairy, partially because it is more nuanced. Still, I don’t know quite what to think of it. Read it, and let me know what you think.
7. Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Dinner. This precedes A Christmas Carol, and contains one or two of the same themes. But it is barely a story—more of a sketch. And that was one of Dicken’s strengths. It’s short and delightful. It reminds me of what I want Christmas celebrations to be like in my home.

Finally, the following poems:

1. Christmas Bells by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
2. Christmastide by Eliza Cook.
3. Music on Christmas Morning by Anne Brontë.
4. Ring Out, Wild Bells by Alfred Lord, Tennyson.