Favourite Christmas Stories

1~Truman Capote's A Christmas Memory is without question my absolute favourite story for the holiday season. It is perfection from the first word to the last.

2~My Special Christmas - Basically I totally saved Christmas with the help of Goldentoe the elf, and one of my brothers plus my two BFFs. How could I not love a story that featured me?

3~Christmas with the Goblins was in a collection of Christmas stories compiled by Current entitled Treasured Tales of Christmas and is a family classic in our house and has been since 1980. The Goblins was a Finnish folk tale that featured two children and a Yule Goat that came around to deliver presents to good Finnish boys and girls. Fredrik and Lotta were a pair of spoiled brats who got wicked mad when the Yule Goat announced that they would not receive as many gifts due to the increased number of poor children in the world. Lotta guessed that the goblins were probably better off than they would be that night. So that smart little Yule Goat snatched up those two demon children and transported them to the goblin mountain and directly to the thrones of King Mundus and Queen Caro (awesome names). Mundus was the king of darkness and after threatening to turn Fredrik and Lotta into crows or spiders he instead offered them a riddle; figure it out and they would be set free. Mundus asked about that damn bright star he sees in the darkness and the children proclaimed that it was The Christmas Star, and that Jesus brings love and forgiveness to the world. Then, apparently at the mere mention of the Son of God, the trolls and goblins of the mountain disappeared "like shadows and smoke" and poof! Fredrik and Lotta awoke in their beds, safe and sound. The children then head off to church having learned to "keep Christmas in their hearts, where it belonged, and to show love and kindness to everyone, and to share what they had with those who had less." Awww....

4~How Spider Saved Christmas was the first Christmas book I learned to read on my own and it still cracks me up - I used to love that Fly's gift was a photo of himself "It will remind you of me." The illustrations are simple and adorable and although the idea of Christmas being saved is as old as the hills, the fistful of cuteness in this book is undeniable.

5~Another book purchased from Current, The Gingerbears' First Christmas by Nancy P. McConnell with whimsical photographs by Ron Oatney was a favourite to read to my little brother. It's a story about cookies that come to life and clean the house, decorate the tree, and help out the family that is struggling to get everything done in time for Christmas. They even help finish making the toys for the children. It's completely charming and I still like to think that those bears never got eaten. (God forbid.)

6~Dav Pilkey's Dragon's Merry Christmas is actually four mini stories and Pilkey's Dragon is as precious as a peanut. I bought this at the book store attached to the café I worked out back in 2003 and wrapped it up as a gift for me to open and read on Christmas morning.

 7~Okay, not technically a Christmas story, but it was a Winter favourite when I was very little. It's all about the bestest snow plow in the whole world and how she dug out the City of Geoppolis when it was covered in snow. Katy made it possible for the mail to be delivered, patients to get to the hospital in West Geoppolis and the fire department to put out the three alarm fire in South Geoppolis. Yay Katy!

8~Christmas at the Hollow Tree Inn by Albert Bigelow Paine was also a part of Treasured Tales of Christmas. It was about Mr. Dog and how he told his forest friends the story of Santa Claus, but since Santa only comes to Mr. Man's house, these poor suckers didn't have a snowball's chance in Hell of getting a glimpse at the man himself. So, Mr. Dog dresses up and plays Santa and makes it the happiest Christmas Hollow Tree had ever known.

9~Santa Mouse Meets Marmaduke was the story of a mean mouse named Marmaduke who "often behaved like a rat." My mother still remembers the first page of the book from all the times we begged her to read it again and again. To sum up, Marmaduke was so bad that Santa Claus got Santa Mouse to head on over to Mouse Hotel (that's where Marmaduke lived) and check in for the night. Marmaduke, being the nasty mouse he was, broke into Santa Mouse's room, rummaged through his luggage and dressed up in Santa Mouse's red suit. Then he tricked his little sisters into thinking that he was the real Santa. When Santa Mouse found out what Marmaduke had done he chased Marmaduke around the kitchen until Santa Claus appeared and put a stop to it. Santa read both mice the riot act, had a chat with Marmaduke who then learned his lesson and was forgiven. Christmas morning Santa Claus gave Marmaduke his very own Santa suit and a note that said "Let's be friends."

10~When I was four years old I was able to recite 'Twas The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore from memory. We still have a scratchy recording of it and let me tell you, I read that story with gusto!

Well, that wraps up this sensationally long post. Hope you enjoyed the stroll down Memory Lane with me. Have a great holiday, dear readers!
xoxo