Christmas is that time of the year when everything seems nice and tenderly, joyful and propitious. It is perhaps the most widespread and loveliest of all festivals…..a festival of kindness and charity, forgiveness and friendship. The warmth of hearts easily beats the chilly wind of winter and the white snow exudes nothing but sheer joy, the joy of being together, the oneness and attachment which we feel even with strangers. It’s time to travel back to my childhood, when I used to sit snugly in that old armchair of grandpa with a new book. The smell of new books, which were mostly Christmas gifts, mingled with freshly peeled oranges hovered around me making the atmosphere heavenly. Happiness is still synonymous to books for me. Let’s rewind and rekindle our memories with some Christmas stories whose glory never fades out and even after reading them for umpteen times they seem to be as enthralling as the first read.
The first Christmas story which I read was Frank Baum’s A Kidnapped Santa Claus. Though Frank Baum is mainly famous for his tale of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, this short story by him is beautiful in its own way and any child would love to read this story where Santa gets kidnapped by the Daemons to make the children unhappy all over the world. It proclaims the triumph of good over evil.
The Holy Night by the Swedish writer Selma Lagerlof unfolds the true spirit of Christmas when a hardhearted shepherd meets with some strange series of events when a man comes to him seeking help for his family, his wife and new-born child. I still find the story amazing!
Then I remember The Other Wise Man by H V Dyke. I happened to read this one in my cousin’s house. He is as much a bookworm as me and the thing I hate about him is that he growls and grumbles when anyone even tries to touch his huge collection! This story is based on the mythology of the fourth Wise Man who set off to reach Bethlehem but couldn’t finish the journey on time. According to the author, he heard ”fragments of it in the Hall of Dreams, in the palace of the Heart of Man”.
Among the other stories which I often read during the Christmas time is A Letter From Santa Claus by Samuel Langhorne Clemens who is better known by his pen name Mark Twain. It’s a sweet, short letter from Santa Claus and perhaps a reply to all those little children who scribble down letters to this fantastic old man.
Most of us, I think, have read these three stories more than once. The Gift of the Magi by O Henry (originally known as William Sydney Porter), The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson and A Christmas Carol a novella by Charles Dickens. The first one is a touching story featuring a young couple Jim and Della and their selfless love for each other, the second story is said to be loosely based on an incident that happened to Anderson’s mother when she was a kid. The novella by Dickens shows emotional transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge as he visualizes the ghostly presence of Jacob Marley and ghosts of Christmases Past, Present and Future. It actually endorses the quintessential spirits of Christmas, generosity, kindness and love for all.
Finally, let me mention another story which I came through just a few days ago. Mark W. Sasse’s emotionally charged and engrossing story, If Love is a Crime. The story is set in 1852, when on Christmas Eve, a runaway slave happens to knock the the door of Beatrice, an old widow living all alone. Beatrice, a jovial and warmhearted lady, welcomes the fragile, frightened girl with all her love and comfort. On the chilly, wintry night, as the arm of law hunts around to get hold of the poor girl, all that comes in between is endless love and a huge stack of freshly-baked biscuits. It’s a quick read for Christmas and I don’t know why my eyes felt watery as I was reading it.
I’m a little late to wish you a Merry Christmas, Maniparna, but I certainly hope it was Merry. 🙂 Instead I will wish you a very Happy New Year. ❤
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So nice of you Elizabeth 🙂 Yes, I had a Merry Christmas indeed. Thank you so much for your wish. Hope your every dream and wish be fulfilled in the new year 🙂 Happy New Year 2015 ❤
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Happy New Year to you!
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Thanks a lot …wish you a very happy new year ahead 🙂
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Happy New Year to you ~ very creative Merry Christmas photo ~
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Oh Maniparna…! I AM moist-eyed right now reading about “If love is a crime” … you have written this piece so nicely.. its spontaneous, informative and feels like talking books with an old friend with a crackling fire in the hearth nearby and the house filled with aroma of freshly baked cookies…. …. 3 of these I have read so generous thanks for the other recommendations.. Considering our similar tastes,I take your advice quite seriously 🙂
And cheers for the festive piece dear friend … Hope you had a cheery Christmas 🙂
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What a great comment portraying a perfect Merry Christmas picture Kokila… Hope you’ll love the books because as I know our tastes are quite similar with books 😀 ❤
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God jul! (Happy Yule)
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Merry Christmas.
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Merry Christmas…:) Thanks for the story recommendation…
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🙂
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Merry Christmas, Maniparna!
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Thanks Sreesha…wish you the same… 🙂
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Thanks for sharing these lovely stories….
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Merry Christmas Maniparna 🙂
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Thanks Tirtha…. 🙂
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as always a nice post
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Thanks…glad you like it… 🙂
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When Lord Jesus was born, the angels sang, ‘Glory to God in the Highest and Peace to all people with a Good Heart’. May Maniparna and all her blog readers (and mine) have a broad and good heart that loves all and enjoy abundant peace and joy for ever. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2015…!
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Thank you so much for the lovely comment….much appreciated. 🙂 May your every dream, every wish be fulfilled by God’s grace in the coming year 🙂
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Merry X-mas to you. Always merry to read your posts 🙂
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Thanks Avinash… I enjoy reading your posts too 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you
and a wonderfully written piece!
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Thanks so much and welcome to my blog 🙂
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Merry Christmas
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Thank you 🙂 wish you the same…
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Merry christmas and much love ❤️❤️
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Merry Christmas ❤ ❤ 🙂
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Merry Christmas
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Thanks… same to you and welcome to my blog 🙂
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A wonderful collection of tales! Merry Christmas to you too, Maniparna
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These are my all time favourite 😀 ….thanks..Merry Christmas 🙂
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Merry Christmas Maniparna 🙂
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Thanks Alok..wish you the same… 🙂
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Merry Christmas to you too, Maniparna!
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Thanks Rachna..same to you 🙂
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Manythanks for brining to mind these beloved Christmas’ stories. Their messages and themes are timeless! Merry Christmas! Let the bells ring.
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Thank you so much. Those stories are really timeless! Merry Christmas 🙂
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Have a blessed and joyful Christmas surrounded by loved ones and friends!
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Thanks Tina… wishing you the same..Merry Christmas 🙂
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Thank you my friend. May God bless you and your family with a most wonderful Christmas, and a healthy and peaceful 2015. God bless.
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Thank you so much and wish you the same … 🙂
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Reblogged this on mwsasse and commented:
Thanks to Maniparna who included my new Christmas short story in a post about her favorite Christmas stories.
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You’re welcome 🙂 thanks for reblogging…. Merry Christmas
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Merry Christas to you too Maniparna 😊
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Thanks and wish you the same Shruti… 🙂 ❤
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Merry Christmas 🙂 the list is wonderful and thanks a lot for the links.
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Thanks… Merry Christmas 🙂
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Merry Christmas 🙂
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Merry Christmas…. 🙂
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Wish you a very merry christamassss… have lots of fun and enjoyyyyyyyyyyyyyy
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Thanks ….same to you… 😀
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