Holiday Classics

Washington Irving's Old Christmas tells of an American's travels through England during the Christmas season. Through a chance meeting with an old friend, he is able to experience Christmas in a stately manor house. Through his eyes as a houseguest, he glimpses the uniquely British customs and celebrations of Christmas as it would have been experienced during the Middle Ages, rather than in the early 19th century.

Thompson Hall, redolent of plum pudding and mince pie, green of holly, warmed by omnipotent Victorian fireplaces, awaits the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Brown from the south of France. But they may never make it to Thompson Hall. The story opens in Paris at Le Grand Hotel, where Mr. Brown is down with "a throat condition"—he is unable to travel to England. Only Mrs. Brown is quite determined they will go on. So begins a Christmas tale complicated and simple, pathetic and farcical, embarrassing—even risque, though of course it could be read aloud to an assembled Victorian family.

This is a gentle Christmas story, whose message is that if we didn't already have Christmas, we'd find a way to invent it. It's hard times in Old Trail Town as the Season of Giving approaches. The factory that employs most of the town is closed and not likely to re-open, and town merchants fear that people will try to shop on credit. Unwilling to carry the debt, the merchants work out a scheme to get everybody in town to agree not to have Christmas that year. What happens next proves that Christmas can't be banned from the hearts of those who truly believe in it.

Twenty stories were originally published in the Christmas editions of the magazines “Household Words” and “All The Year Round”. Some of the stories have little holiday sentiment and exhibit much of the indignation Dickens felt at the social and economic injustices of his day. Some of the stories were written in collaboration with other authors.

Stories of Santa Claus is a 1902 children’s book. Santa Claus, as a baby, is found in the Forest of Burzee by Ak, the Master Woodsman of the World (a supreme immortal), and placed in the care of the lioness Shiegra; but thereupon adopted by the Wood Nymph, Necile. Upon reaching young adulthood, Claus is introduced by Ak to human society, wherein he sees war, brutality, poverty, child neglect, and child abuse. Because he cannot reside in Burzee as an adult, he settles in the nearby Laughing Valley of Hohaho.

Christmas may come but once a year but human emotions, the driving force of our characters, are with us every day. Yet, somehow these same emotions when they happen at Christmas seem amplified; we seem more tender to their touch, their words. Whether it’s a long-lost returning soldier wondering how best to return to the arms of his family without too great a risk of shock... Or a prodigal son whose taken path has driven pain into his own and others hearts… These stories reveal much about the human condition.

This quintessential Christmas tale shows Dickens at his dazzling and provocative best, leaving Scrooge no doubts about the true spirit of Christmas, nor about the perils of ignoring the insistent ghosts of Christmases Past, Present...and Yet to Come.

As the English language evolves, this wonderfully instructive story is in danger of only being covered as a school requirement by grudging students. That would be a sad loss for all listeners. As an avid listener, teacher, and parent who simply loves this story, Jennifer George adapted this classic book for modern listeners using 21st-century English. The goal is to return this magical novella back into the entertaining story it was when it was written nearly 200 years ago.

On New Year’s Eve, a small, poor girl walks in the darkness and cold trying to sell her matches. Hungry and frozen, she curls up in a nook and lights her matches in search for warmth. Looking into the glow of the matches, she is transported far, far away from the hunger and the cold.

The Fernalds are an elderly couple, alone now that their children are grown and, mostly, married. But one of their sons realizes how lonely they must be and decides to bring his family together for the holidays to surprise his parents. First published in 1908, this short novel was followed by a sequel, On Christmas Day in the Evening, in 1910.

A Rocky Bleier Christmas is a collection of five classic Christmas stories for you and the entire family to enjoy. The collection includes an introduction by NFL legend Rocky Bleier. The delightful Christmas stories are: “A Christmas Dream and How it Came True” written by Louisa May Alcott, “Yes, Virginia There is a Santa Clause” by Francis Church, “Twas the Night Before Christmas” by Clement Clarke Moore, “Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost, and “The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry.

Included are a dozen classic sweet stories about Santa Claus and Christmas to delight young and old alike. You might just learn something about "The Jolly Old Elf" that you didn't know before.

Эрнст Теодор Амадей Гофман (1776 - 1822) - немецкий писатель, композитор и художник романтического направления. Всемирную славу снискал как автор повествований, где мистика сочетается с реальностью. Фантастика Гофмана произрастает из самых обыденных мелочей, из простых вещей.

This collection of short stories by notable Australian author Mary Grant Bruce (1878-1958) reflects on Australian experiences of summertime. Infused with the smells, sounds, and textures of Australian life during the Christmas season, these stories also highlight the strengths and yearnings of their characters.

Jon Tunstall is an apprentice to the wizard Artax, the owner of the wandering magic shop Spells 4 U. In the midst of the bustling Winter Solstice shopping season, Jon's routine is interrupted by the arrival of Esmeralda, a beautiful and powerful wizard. Esme and Artax have a tumultuous history together, but Esme hopes she can convince the elder wizard to help her with an important personal problem. Caught between two temperamental and headstrong wizards, it might be Jon who holds the solution to Esme's difficulties - and to the rift that has grown between them.

Dreimal erhält Ebenezer Scrooge an Heiligabend Besuch von einem Geist - und dreimal wird dem Kaufmann vor Augen geführt, wie sehr Raffgier, Kaltherzigkeit und Einsamkeit sein Leben beherrschen. Doch glücklicherweise wird alles, was Scrooge im Verlauf jener Nacht an der Seite seiner überirdischen Besucher erlebt, ihn zu einem besseren Menschen machen. So entdeckt auch er sein Herz... Charles Dickens' Weihnachtsklassiker erzählt von einer wundersamen Wandlung und gehört fest zur Weihnachtszeit.

Corduroy is excited to celebrate Christmas! To get ready, he decorates his tree, bakes cookies, and wraps presents. When the snow starts falling on Christmas Eve, Corduroy hangs up his stocking and leaves a note for Santa. Merry Christmas, Corduroy!

Here is a charming Christmas tale about a young woman staying with her aunt in rural New England. When Sophie invites her high-society friends to visit her and Aunt Pemy, they quickly - and much to their delight - discover that there's much more to country life than they had ever imagined.

This is a SoundCraft Audiobooks production - enhanced with music and sound effects - of perhaps the most beloved Christmas book of all time, Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. It tells the story of the miserly and miserable Ebenezer Scrooge, who is given one, final chance at redemption on Christmas Eve when he is visited by the ghost of his deceased business partner, Jacob Marley. Scrooge is guided by three Spirits - of Christmas Past, Present and Future - who show the old miser the error of his ways.

El día de su cumpleaños, un niño recibe una caja con veinticinco soldaditos de plomo. Uno de ellos tiene solamente una pierna, pues al fundirlos había sido el último y no había habido suficiente plomo para terminarlo. Cerca del soldadito se encuentra una hermosa bailarina hecha de papel con una cinta azul anudada en el hombro y adornada con una lentejuela. Ella, como él, se detiene sobre una sola pierna, y el soldadito se enamora de ella.