Holiday Classics You Have to Read

Of course, I had to include some holiday classics in blog-mas – after all, with my love of books, I have so many that fit this label.
That’s mainly because I’ve stretched the label “holiday classics” to include just about any book I like to read around this period, but oh well. At least it gives me another book post :p

This post is not sponsored in any way or form. It does, however, contain affiliate links.

So let’s get right to it!

1.A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

So, this is probably like, the first book anyone thinks of, when they think of Christmas classics, right? This one has inspired so many remakes, retellings, re-imaginings… I mean, when a story has both a Disney- ànd a Loony Tunes-remake, you know it’s really made it, right?

It actually took me the longest time to get to reading this one, mainly because I was scared I wouldn’t like it as much as I felt like I should? You know, it has such a huge reputation that I felt like,  should I not like it, that would somehow imply I had bad taste in books? Anyways, I got over myself a couple of years ago, read it, and although I maybe didn’t love it as much as some do… I did really, really like it!

2.Little Women, Lousia May Alcott

The movie version opens with a view of snow – lots of it. And it has like, at least, 50 pages dedicated to Christmas. So obviously this one had to be on this list.

Also, I love this book so much, that I even wrote my bachelor’s dissertation on it! It has quite the Christian morale, so I feel like it’s also really fitting to read it around this time of year. Makes you remember that there’s more to this holiday than just the presents, you know?

3.The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis

So Narnia is stuck in an eternal winter in this one – always winter, but never Christmas. The arrival of the four “Sons of Adam and Daughters of Eve” finally gets Father Christmas to come back around, and is part of what gives the entire country back hope.

I mean – really, how much more Christmas-sy can you get?

4.The Little Match Girl, Hans Christian Andersen

Written by the master of fairy tales himself, this one is quite possibly the saddest on this list. I mean, this story is not something you read if you’re in need of a happy ending. However, if you want a story that will remind you of the true meaning of this holiday – and maybe even put you in a more charitable mood? This amazing story should definitely be your go to!

5. The Nutcracker, E.T.A. Hoffman

Okay, so let me just get this out of the way: I saw the ballet live. Twice. The first time in a more modern version, on December 6th 2011 in Antwerp, the second time in a more classic version, on December 21th in Paris. I loved both of them. I’ve also seen the ballet, taped, in 3 different versions. Needless to say, I loved those as well. And probably self-explanatory: I love this story. It has just the right amount of magic, of Christmas, of fairy tale… And of course: of timelessness. Now, I don’t know if that last one is actually a thing, but – for me at least – it is important. There’s a reason they call it classics – they stay good through the ages!

6. The Greatest Gift, Philip Van Doren Stern

Now, I haven’t actually read this one yet – however, it’s the book that inspired the movie It’s a Wonderful Life. I mean, what more reason do I need? Apart from the fact that I still haven’t read it yet, that is. But no worry, this book has now been put firmly on top of my (admittedly enormuous) TBR, and I fully intend on having it read before Christmas comes around!

7. Miracle on 34th Street, Valentine Davies

Another one that inspired a movie that – to this day – is about as ultimately Christmas as it gets! Also, this is another one where I have seen at least some of the movie adaptations, and there’s just something so hopeful that I take away from it, every time I watch it.

8. Christmas with Anne and Other Holiday Stories, L.M. Montgomery

L.M. Montgomery basically wrote some of my most-loved-to-this-day classics ever (also known as: Anne of Green Gables) and now it turns out that there’s Christmas stories to go with that? What? Why did I not know about this? Another I am going to have to make sure I get read before Christmas! (well, Christmas this year or next year, at least 🙂 )

Anyways, what are some of your favourite Christmas classics? Be sure to let me know your recommendations below! And don’t forget to check out the rest of blog-mas 2016 – as well as come back for tomorrow’s post!

-Saar