Christmas is undoubtedly a big deal worldwide due to the tremendous festive cheer it brings to many. According to World Atlas, America is the fourth-highest spending nation during Christmas, with people directing about 15% of their incomes towards this holiday. Many people are completing their shopping lists as this year’s Christmas approaches, but it is crucial not to lose sight of values like hope, compassion, and love. If you’re looking for the best classic Christmas books that promote those values, below are some ideas.
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- A Christmas Carol – Charles Dickens
Many people widely regard A Christmas Carol as the book that helped invent modern-day Christmas. It is a timeless story of transformation and redemption that captures the season’s true spirit, so it is no surprise that this novella has set a precedent for several Christmas stories since. Therefore, it is a good book to enjoy while snuggled in with a blanket, a hot drink in hand, and your favorite Christmas tshirt. A Christmas Carol tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly misanthrope who receives an unexpected visit from the ghost of Jacob Marley, his former business partner, who warns Scrooge that three more spirits will haunt him. The story’s themes of wealth and injustice are powerful, and it teaches us all that it is possible to change society for the better through compassion, generosity, and empathy.
- How The Grinch Stole Christmas – Dr.Seuss
This classic Christmas story is a touching tale about the Christmas spirit and its effects. Dr. Seuss tells the story of the Grinch, a mean and grumpy cave-dwelling creature who lives in Whoville and hates Christmas, along with everything that accompanies the holiday season. After hearing the noise of the festivities in Whoville, the annoyed Grinch devises a wicked plot to steal the people’s trees, presents, and Christmas food. He executes his plan to perfection, robbing all houses in the village and filling his sleigh with gifts, decorations, and food.
However, the Grinch is left puzzled after hearing the people of Whoville singing a joyous Christmas song instead of letting out bitter and sorrowful cries over their lost presents, decorations, and food. Slowly, it dawns on the mean grinch that Christmas means a little bit more than material things. Consequently, he returns to Whoville with all the villagers’ belongings and participates in their Christmas feast. How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a timeless story that teaches the true meaning of Christmas, making it a perfect gift for book lovers of all ages in your life.
- Letters From Father Christmas – J.R.R Tolkien
J.R.R Tolkien wrote these letters over 20 years to entertain his children every Christmas, beginning in 1920 when his eldest was aged three. The letters describe the wonderful life in the North Pole from the perspective of Father Christmas, the polar bear, or the elves. Many readers agree that everyone, both young and old, will be charmed by Tolkien’s originality and imagination in crafting these letters from Father Christmas. Therefore, this book should undoubtedly be on your Christmas reading list this year.
If you want even more Christmas reading suggestions, be sure to check back in next month for my 2021 roundup of contemporary holiday books that are sure to get you in a festive mood.