All I want for Christmas is a collection of classic holiday books to snuggle up with this December.
Last updated: November 27, 2021
5 Best Classic Holiday Books to Read This December
The Christmas season is the most wonderful time of the year to curl up with homemade gingerbread latte and the classic holiday books. Get cozy, get warm, get hygge, and pick a few Christmas reads that make this holiday season extra special.
There are ample classic holiday books for adults and children to read this December. From short stories to Christmas classics, such as The Night Before Christmas and The Polar Express, these holiday books aim to help you rediscover good old traditions of this joyous time. Indeed, tis the season to be jolly.
Be warned though, these classic holiday books are adept at transferring you in space and time. Are you ready for the most captivating reading adventures? Here are five classic holiday books to read this December.
The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
One of the best classic holiday books for children, The Polar Express enthralls both the little readers and their parents. It brings back the joy and magic of Christmas that you once experienced as a kid. This classic story follows the adventure of a young boy who boards a festive, holiday train heading to the North Pole. This Christmas Eve becomes the most magical and unforgettable time for the little explorer. He gets a chance to see Santa Claus, befriends elves, and learns to believe in the spirit of Christmas. The boy continues to cherish the magic of the holiday season even when he grows up.
The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern
It’s a wonderful life. Sadly, the main character of The Greatest Gift, one of the most remarkable classic holiday books made into a movie, needs some divine intervention to realize it. As George Pratt sits on the edge of a bridge ready to commit suicide, a stranger approaches him and grants his wish. George gets to see what the world and life of his loved ones would be without him if he would never been born in the first place.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Christmas is not the same without Dickens and his classic holiday books. A Christmas Carol is indisputably the best read to dive into this December. The story tells about the incredible transformation of Ebenezer Scrooge, a man who hates Christmas, from a grumpy old niggard to a cheerful friend of everybody. You can hardly find another holiday tale that has been adapted into films so many times. And still every year, a new film interpretation of A Christmas Carol promises to remind you of the magic of Christmas once again.
The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol
Eastern European literature has many captivating works, but when it comes to the classic holiday books, nothing can beat The Night Before Christmas. Written in 1831, the tale relates the adventures of Vakula the Smith who struggles to get slippers off the Tsaritsa’s feet for his lovely Oksana. Neither devil nor good can stop the blacksmith in his pursuit of the heart of the most beautiful girl in the village.
Culture enthusiasts find this holiday classic by Ukrainian novelist Nikolai Gogol especially irresistible. Based on fictional events, it depicts a myriad of holiday customs and traditions that are still alive in some rural parts of Eastern Europe.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Although Little Women doesn’t entirely fall into the category of the classic holiday books, it’s a great story to read in December. In this book, Louisa May Alcott narrates about four sisters growing up in Boston during and after the Civil War. As the story spans a long period of time, it includes the holidays, including Christmas.
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