The Christmas holidays are approaching, and with them the holidays. These fun days can be more than just screen time. To bond with your children, read stories about Christmas to them. Let the kids understand the real meaning of this holiday, empathize with the main characters, learn to give and forgive. And the children's fantasy is better than any director to bring the stories he heard to life.
1. O'Henry "Gifts of the Magi"
“… I've just told you an unremarkable story about two stupid children from an eight-dollar apartment who, in the most unwise way, sacrificed their greatest treasures for each other. But let it be said for the edification of the wise of our day, that of all the givers these two were the wisest. Of all those who offer and receive gifts, only those like them are truly wise.”This touching story about the value of the gift, regardless of its price; this story is about the importance of self-sacrifice in the name of love.
young married couple survives on eight dollars a week, and it's Christmas time. Dell cries in despair because he cannot buy a present for his beloved husband. Over the course of many months, she was only able to save a dollar and eighty-eight cents. But then she remembers that she has simply gorgeous hair, and decides to sell it in order to give her husband a chain for his family watch.
The husband, who saw his wife in the evening, seems to be very upset. But he was saddened not because his wife had become like a ten-year-old boy, but because he sold his gold watch to give the most beautiful combs, which she looked at for several months.
Looks like Christmas failed. But these two cried not from sadness, but from love for each other.
2. Sven Nurdqvist "Christmas Porridge"
“Once, a long time ago, there was a case - they forgot to bring porridge to the gnomes. And the dwarf father became so angry that misfortunes happened in the house all year long. Wow, how it went through him, he really is such a good man!Gnomes get along well with people, help them run the household, take care of animals. And they don’t demand much from people - for Christmas, bring them a special Christmas porridge. But here's the bad luck, people completely forgot about the gnomes. And the dwarf dad will be terribly angry if he finds out that there will be no treats this year. How to enjoy porridge and not catch the eye of the owners of the house?
3. Sven Nordqvist "Christmas in Petson's house"
“Petson and Findus silently drank coffee and looked at their reflections in the window. It was very dark outside, but the kitchen was very quiet. That kind of silence comes when something doesn't work out the way you want it to."This is a wonderful piece of friendship and support in Hard time. Petson and his kitten Findus live together and are already starting to prepare for Christmas. But bad luck happened - Petson accidentally injured his leg and will no longer be able to finish all the work. And in the house, as if to evil, food and firewood for the stove ran out, and they didn’t even have time to put up a Christmas tree. Who will help friends not to be hungry and lonely at Christmas?
4. Gianni Rodari "Planet of Christmas Trees"
“The storm has really begun. Only instead of rain, millions of colorful confetti rained down from the sky. The wind picked them up, circled them, carried them completely apart. There was a complete impression that winter had come and a snow blizzard had set in. However, the air remained still warm, filled with various aromas - it smelled of mint, anise, tangerines and something else unfamiliar, but very pleasant.Little Marcus was nine years old. He dreamed of receiving a real spaceship as a gift from his grandfather, but for some reason his grandfather gave him a toy horse. Why is he a kid to play with such toys? But curiosity took its toll, and in the evening Marcus got on a horse, which turned out to be ... spaceship.
Marcus ended up on a distant planet where Christmas trees grew everywhere, residents lived according to a special New Year calendar, sidewalks themselves moved, delicious bricks and wire were served in cafes, and for children they came up with a special palace “Break-break”, where they were allowed to destroy everything.
Everything would be fine, but how to return home? ..
5. Hans Christian Andersen "Girl with matches"
“In the cold morning hour, in the corner behind the house, the girl with rosy cheeks and a smile on her lips still sat, but dead. She froze in last night old year; New Year's sun illuminated a small corpse ... But no one knew what she saw, in what splendor she ascended, together with her grandmother, to the New Year's joys in heaven!Unfortunately, not all fairy tales end happily. And this is impossible to read without tears. Is it possible for a child to wander the streets on New Year's Eve hoping to sell at least one match? She warmed her little fingers, and the shadows from the tiny fire painted scenes of a happy life that she could see through other people's windows.
We do not even know the name of the baby - for us she will always be a girl with matches, who, due to the greed and indifference of adults, flew to heaven.
6. Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol"
“These are joyful days - days of mercy, kindness, forgiveness. These are the only days in the entire calendar when people seem to tacit consent, freely open their hearts to each other and see in their neighbors - even in the poor and the destitute - the same people as themselves.This work has become a favorite for more than one generation. We know his adaptation of A Christmas Carol.
This is the story of the greedy Ebenezer Scrooge, for whom nothing is more important than money. Compassion, mercy, joy, love are alien to him. But everything should change on Christmas Eve...
In each of us lives a little Scrooge, and it is so important not to miss the moment, to open the doors for love and mercy, so that this miser does not completely take over us.
7. Katherine Holabert "Angelina Meets Christmas"
“The sky is full of bright stars. White flakes of snow fell softly to the ground. Angelina had good mood, and she kept dancing on the pavement, to the surprise of passers-by.Little mouse Angelina is looking forward to Christmas. She had already planned what she would do at home, only now she noticed in the window a lonely sad Mr. Bell, who had no one to celebrate the holiday with. Sweet Angelina decides to help Mr. Bell, but she does not suspect that thanks to her good heart find the real Santa Claus!
8. Susan Wojciechowski "Mr. Toomey's Christmas Miracle"
“Your sheep, of course, is beautiful, but my sheep was also happy ... After all, they were next to baby Jesus, and this is such happiness for them!”Mr. Toomey makes a living doing woodcarving. Once he smiled and was happy. But after the loss of his wife and son, he became gloomy and received the nickname Mr. Gloomy from the neighborhood children. Once, on Christmas Eve, a widow with a young son knocked on his door and asked him to make them Christmas figurines, since they had lost theirs after the move. It would seem that there is nothing wrong with an ordinary order, but gradually this work is changing Mr. Toomey ...
9. Nikolai Gogol "The Night Before Christmas"
Patsyuk opened his mouth, looked at the dumplings, and opened his mouth even more. At this time, the dumpling splashed out of the bowl, slapped it into the sour cream, turned over to the other side, jumped up and just got into his mouth. Patsyuk ate and opened his mouth again, and the dumpling went again in the same order. He only took on the task of chewing and swallowing.A favorite piece for adults and children alike. An amazing story about evenings on a farm near Dikanka, which formed the basis of films, musicals and cartoons. But if your child does not yet know the history of Vakula, Oksana, Solokha, Chub and other heroes, and also has not heard that the devil can steal the moon, and what other miracles happen on the night before Christmas, it is worth devoting a few evenings to this fascinating story .
10. Fyodor Dostoevsky "Christ's Boy on the Tree"
“These boys and girls were all the same as he, children, but some of them froze in their baskets, in which they were thrown on the stairs ..., others suffocated at the little girls, from the orphanage to be fed, others died at their withered breasts. their mothers .., the fourth suffocated in third-class carriages from the stench, and they are all here now, they are all now like angels, all with Christ, and he himself is in their midst, and stretches out his hands to them, and blesses them and their sinners mothers..."This is a difficult work, without pathos and decorations, the author truthfully draws a poor life. Parents will have to explain a lot, because, thank God, our children do not know such hardships as the main character.
The little boy is cold from the cold and is exhausted from hunger. His mother died in some dark basement, and he is looking for a piece of bread on Christmas Eve. The boy, probably for the first time in his life, sees another, happy life. Only she is there, outside the windows of wealthy people. The boy was able to get to the Christmas tree to Christ, but after he froze on the street ...
11. Marco Cheremshina "Tear"
“The newest angel, having become a litati from a hut to a hut with gifts on the porches ... Marusya lies on the snow, the sky freezes. Fight її, angel!This short story will not leave indifferent neither adults nor children. Fitted on one page whole life poor family. Marusya's mother became seriously ill. To keep mother from dying, little one the girl is walking to the city for medicine. But the Christmas frost does not spare the child, and snow pours into the holey boots as if out of spite.
Marusya is exhausted and quietly dies in the snow. Her only hope is for the last childish tear that miraculously fell on the cheek of a Christmas angel ...
12. Mikhail Kotsyubinsky "Christmas tree"
“The horses, rushing along the marks and along the kuchugurs, sweated and became. Vasilko got lost. Youmu was hungry and scared. Win started crying. Khurtovina forked all around, the cold wind blew and twisted with snow, and Vasilkov’s guess was warm, the father’s hut was clear ... "Deep, dramatic, insightful work. It will not leave any reader indifferent, and the intrigue will not let you relax until the very end.
Once upon a time, little Vasylka was given a Christmas tree by his father; it grew in the garden and made the boy happy. And today, on Christmas Eve, my father sold the Christmas tree, because the family really, really needed money. When the Christmas tree was cut down, it seemed to Vasylka that she was about to cry, and the boy himself seemed to have lost a dear person.
But Vasylko also had to take the Christmas tree to the city. The road went through the forest, the Christmas frost was crackling, the snow covered all traces, and, unfortunately, the sleigh also broke down. It is not surprising that Vasylko got lost in the forest. Will the boy be able to find his way home and will Christmas be a joyful holiday for his family?
13. Lydia Podvysotskaya "The Tale of the Christmas Angel"
“By the streets of the underlit place, the litan angel was born. Vіn buv is so soft and lower, all zіtkany z joy that love. The angel is at his torbintsі tsіkavі razdvyanі fairy tales for the hearing, the lesser children.The Christmas angel looked into one of the rooms and saw little boy, who was beating in a fever and breathing hoarsely, and above him, bent over, sat a little older girl. The angel realized that the children were orphans. It is very difficult and scary for them to live without a mother. But that's why he is a Christmas angel to help and protect good children ...
14. Maria Shkurina "Star as a gift for mom"
“I needed more than anything else in the world to be healthy. I’m healthy, I’m healthy, I can’t get up from my bed, like a past fate, taking Hannusya by the hand, take a walk.”Little Anya's mother has been ill for a long time, and the doctor only looks away and shakes his head sadly. And tomorrow is Christmas. Last year they had so much fun walking with the whole family, and now mom can’t even get out of bed. A little girl remembers that wishes come true at Christmas, and asks a star from the sky for health for her mother. Only will a distant star hear a child's prayer?
Christmas is the period when magic comes into its own. Teach your children to believe in miracles, in the power of love and faith, and to do good themselves. And these wonderful stories will help you with this.
The Christmas holidays have come, and all the children were waiting for gifts under the Christmas tree. But Misha alone was not happy about the New Year and Christmas. He was sure that he would not be given a gift. After all, he behaved badly all year. He did not sleep in kindergarten, did not always listen to the teacher, did not finish the soup, and generally ate only one spoonful of tasteless milk porridge. For everyone there was a fairy tale about Christmas. Reading about the holidays and hearing about them from everyone around was a real torment for Misha. He couldn't wait for all this to pass and spring to come.
Tale of Christmas: read online about how Misha met the Snow Maiden
On the eve of Christmas, Misha was completely desperate. Mom asked him to help with cooking festive dishes, but he answered her rudely and did not want to take part in the general celebration. Dad asked me to clean up the room. But Misha watched cartoons and littered even more. The closer it was to Christmas, the sadder the baby was. Then the sister decided to send Misha to the store for juice. It was not far to go, Misha was already allowed to go to the store himself, and he always rejoiced at the opportunity to go out into the street. Now even going out into the street did not please him. But still Misha put on a hat, scarf, jacket and boots. And then slowly wandered into the store. He decided to take everything slowly so that he could be at home less and make the whole family nervous.
Near the store, Misha decided to make a few circles around in order to linger even longer. He went behind the store building and found himself in a beautiful snowy meadow. He had never seen anything like it before. She was blinded handsome snowman, and there were also several ice sculptures. Misha went up to one of the ice statues and stared at it for a long time. She was incredibly beautiful and you can admire her beauty for ages.
“How beautiful,” the boy said aloud. At this moment, the statue suddenly answered him.
- Thank you. - and then resounded ringing laughter statues.
Misha was frightened, but then he realized that some girl froze in the pose of an ice sculpture and just played him. Although it was very surprising how she managed to become so much like ice.
— How did you do it? Misha asked, cooling down a bit.
- It's a secret. Grandpa won't let anyone tell.
“I won't tell anyone. Believe me. After all, I don’t want to talk to anyone because of these New Year holidays.
Why are you happy about the holidays? All children are very happy.
“Because I won’t get the gift anyway.”
- How so?
The teachers called me bad child. I ate poorly in the garden, slept little, did not always listen in class. And I never ate milk porridge. I didn't deserve a present. 
- Against! the girl objected. - You defended your position and did not betray your tastes. You don’t like milk porridge, don’t choke on it, harming yourself? I would have done exactly the same in your place. But forcing children to eat - that's for sure bad behavior. Whoever does not receive gifts from grandfather is your educators.
- How do you know?
- Because I ... Because I ... Snow Maiden. the girl said. Misha understood everything at once. Therefore, the girl managed to be invisible among the ice sculptures. “Now I have to run. Help grandfather. But you promise not to tell anyone about me?
- I promise! Misha said.
He bought juice and quickly returned home. I apologized for taking so long to shop. Helped mom cut salads. Cleaned up in my room. And began to wait. The fairy tale about Christmas became a reality. A little more and the chimes will strike. A miracle will happen - the birth of Jesus Christ. And all good kids will receive gifts. Finally, the clock struck, and Misha saw gifts under the tree. The Snow Maiden was right. Misha was a wonderful child, although he did not eat porridge, slept little and was sometimes capricious.
We have created more than 300 costless fairy tales on the Dobranich website. It is pragmatic to remake the splendid contribution to sleep at the homeland ritual, the recurrence of turbot and heat.Would you like to support our project? Let's get drunk, s new strength we continue to write for you!
“There are holidays that have their own smell. On Easter, Trinity and Christmas, the air smells of something special. Even non-believers love these holidays. My brother, for example, interprets that there is no God, and on Easter he is the first to run to matins ”(A.P. Chekhov, story“ On the Way ”).
Orthodox Christmas is just around the corner! With the celebration of this have a bright day(and even several - Christmas time) there are many connected interesting traditions. In Rus', it was customary to devote this period to serving one's neighbor, to works of mercy. Everyone knows the tradition of caroling - the performance of chants in honor of the born Christ. Winter holidays inspired many writers to create magical Christmas stories.
There is even special genre Christmas story. The plots in it are very close to each other: often the heroes of Christmas stories find themselves in a state of spiritual or material crisis, the resolution of which requires a miracle. Christmas stories are imbued with light, hope, and only a few of them have a sad ending. Especially often Christmas stories are dedicated to the triumph of mercy, compassion and love.
Especially for you, dear readers, we have prepared a selection of the best Christmas stories, both Russian and foreign writers. Read and enjoy, let festive mood will last longer!
"Gifts of the Magi", O. Henry
The well-known story of sacrificial love who will give her last for the happiness of her neighbor. A story about quivering feelings, which cannot but surprise and delight. At the end, the author ironically remarks: “And I was just telling you an unremarkable story about two stupid children from an eight-dollar apartment who, in the most unwise way, sacrificed their greatest treasures for each other.” But the author does not make excuses, he only confirms that the gifts of his heroes were more important than the gifts of the Magi: “But let it be said for the edification of the wise men of our days that of all the donors these two were the wisest. Of all those who offer and receive gifts, only those like them are truly wise. Anywhere and everywhere. They are the Magi." In the words of Joseph Brodsky, "on Christmas everyone is a little magician."
"Nikolka", Evgeny Poselyanin
The plot of this Christmas story is very simple. The stepmother did a very mean thing to her stepson on Christmas eve, he had to die. At the Christmas service, a woman experiences belated remorse. But on a bright festive night, a miracle happens ...
By the way, Yevgeny Poselyanin has wonderful memories of the childhood experience of Christmas - "Christmas Days". Read - and plunge into the pre-revolutionary atmosphere noble estates, childhood and joy.
"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens
The work of Dickens - the history of the present spiritual rebirth person. Main character, Scrooge, was a miser, became a merciful benefactor, from a lone wolf turned into a sociable and friendly person. And this change was helped by the spirits that flew to him and showed him a possible future. watching different situations from his past and future, the hero felt remorse for his wrongly lived life.
"Christ's boy on the Christmas tree", F. M. Dostoevsky
A touching story with a sad (and joyful at the same time) ending. I doubt if it should be read to children, especially sensitive ones. But for adults, it's probably worth it. For what? I would answer with the words of Chekhov: “It is necessary that behind the door of every satisfied, happy person someone stood with a hammer and would constantly remind by knocking that there are unfortunate people, that, no matter how happy he is, life will sooner or later show him its claws, trouble will strike - illness, poverty, losses, and no one will see him and no one will He will hear, as now he does not see and does not hear others.
Dostoevsky included it in the "Diary of a Writer" and himself was surprised how this story came out from under his pen. And his writer's intuition tells the author that this very much could actually happen. Like tragic story there is also the main sad storyteller of all times, G. H. Andersen - "The Girl with Matches".
"Gifts of the Christ Child" by George MacDonald
The story of one young family going through difficult times in relationships, difficulties with a nanny, alienation from their daughter. The latter is the sensitive lonely girl Sophie (or Fauci). It was through her that joy and light returned to the house. The story emphasizes that the main gifts of Christ are not gifts under the Christmas tree, but love, peace and mutual understanding.
"Christmas letter", Ivan Ilyin
I would call this short work, composed of two letters from mother and son, a real hymn of love. It is she, unconditional love, runs like a red thread through the whole work and is its main theme. It is this state that opposes loneliness and defeats it.
“Whoever loves, his heart blooms and smells sweet; and he gives his love just like a flower gives its scent. But then he is not alone, because his heart is with the one he loves: he thinks about him, takes care of him, rejoices in his joy and suffers in his sufferings. He doesn't even have time to feel lonely or think about whether he is lonely or not. In love man forgets himself; he lives with others, he lives in others. And that is happiness."
After all, Christmas is a holiday of overcoming loneliness and alienation, this is the day of the manifestation of Love ...
"God in the Cave" by Gilbert Chesterton
We are accustomed to perceive Chesterton primarily as the author of detective stories about Father Brown. But he wrote to different genres: he wrote several hundred poems, 200 stories, 4000 essays, a number of plays, the novels "The Man Who Was Thursday", "The Ball and the Cross", "The Flying Tavern" and much more. Chesterton was also an excellent publicist and deep thinker. In particular, his essay "God in the Cave" is an attempt to comprehend the events of two thousand years ago. I recommend it to people with a philosophical mindset.
« silver blizzard”, Vasily Nikiforov-Volgin
Nikiforov-Volgin in his work surprisingly subtly shows the world of children's faith. His stories are thoroughly permeated with a festive atmosphere. So, in the story “Silver Blizzard”, he shows the boy with trepidation and love with his zeal for piety, on the one hand, and with mischief and pranks, on the other. What is worth one well-aimed phrase of the story: “These days I don’t want anything earthly, and especially school”!
Holy Night, Selma Lagerlöf
Story Selma Lagerlöf continues the theme of childhood.
Grandmother tells her granddaughter interesting legend about Christmas. It is not canonical in the strict sense, but reflects the immediacy of popular faith. This amazing story about mercy and how pure heart opens the eyes with which a person can enjoy the contemplation of the beauty of heaven.
"Christ visiting a man" fiat ruble"," Offended at Christmas, Nikolai Leskov
These three stories struck me to the core, so it was difficult to choose the best one from them. I discovered Leskov from some unexpected side. These works of the author have common features. This is both a fascinating story and general ideas mercy, forgiveness and doing good deeds. Examples of heroes from these works surprise, cause admiration and a desire to imitate.
"Reader! be kind: intervene in our history too, remember what today’s Newborn taught you: punish or pardon? The one who gave you "verbs eternal life"... Think! This is very worthy of your thought, and the choice is not difficult for you ... Do not be afraid to seem ridiculous and stupid if you act according to the rule of the One Who told you: “Forgive the offender and get yourself a brother in him” (N. S. Leskov, “Under Christmas offended").
Many novels have chapters dedicated to Christmas, for example, in B. Shiryaev’s “Inextinguishable Lamp”, L. Kassil’s “Conduit and Shvambrania”, A. Solzhenitsyn’s “In the First Circle”, I. S. Shmelev’s “The Summer of the Lord”.
The Christmas story, for all its seeming naivety, fabulousness and extraordinaryness, has always been loved by adults. Maybe because Christmas stories are primarily about goodness, about faith in a miracle and in the possibility of a person's spiritual rebirth?
Christmas is really a celebration of children's faith in a miracle ... Many Christmas stories dedicated to the description of this pure joy of childhood. Here are some wonderful words from one of them: Great holiday Christmas, surrounded by spiritual poetry, is especially understandable and close to the child ... The Divine Infant was born, and to Him be praise, glory and honors of the world. Everyone rejoiced and rejoiced. And in memory of the Holy Infant in these days of bright memories, all children should have fun and rejoice. This is their day, a holiday of innocent, pure childhood…” (Klavdiya Lukashevich, “Christmas Holiday”).
P.S. In preparing this collection, I read a lot of Christmas stories, but, of course, not all that are in the world. I chose according to my taste those that seemed the most fascinating, artistically expressive. Preference was given to little-known works, so, for example, the list does not include N. Gogol's The Night Before Christmas or Hoffmann's The Nutcracker.
And what are your favorite Christmas stories, dear matrons?
Christmas tale "Dreams come true"
Author of the work: Maxim Glushkov, 6th grade student of the Zaikovskaya secondary school No. 1Job title: Christmas tale "Dreams come true"
Supervisor: Pechnikova Albina Anatolyevna, teacher of literature, MOU "Zaikovskaya secondary school No. 1"
Description of work:
The schoolboy's tale is the author's. Maxim is fond of creating fantastic works. He tries to reflect his dreams in poetry and prose. The Christmas tale about New Year's dreams written by him can be useful in the work of educators kindergarten, class teachers during the New Year's party, theatrical performance for children of primary school and preschool age on Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.
Target: Development creativity students.
Tasks:
1) To cultivate the ability to perceive the world through the eyes of an artist of the word.
2) To instill a love for the book, a desire to read and compose fairy tales on their own, stage theatrical performances according to a written script;
3) Develop creative imagination and oral speech of children, awaken their imagination.
Lived - there was a family. The most ordinary, like all families. Mom, dad and two daughters and a little son. The children loved winter very much. They enjoyed playing snowballs and sledding down the hills. make different trinkets with your own hands. But most of all the guys liked New Year and Christmas, when Santa Claus gives gifts and makes their dreams come true.
Winter came. They began to wait for the New Year and Christmas. The children really wanted to receive gifts from the old wizard and decided to write him a letter. In it, they asked Santa Claus for strawberries.
The one, juicy and tasty, which was eaten in the summer. It has so many vitamins and joy! But my mother said:
- You haven't decorated the Christmas tree in the yard yet! Where will Santa Claus put his Christmas presents?
The girls took their brother, wrapped him warmer and went out into the street, which seemed to be waiting for new miracles, cleaned the snow around fluffy Christmas tree, corrected the snowman's bucket, took christmas toys, snowflakes and crackers, hung out dad's garland, and together they began to decorate the New Year's beauty.
When the Christmas tree was lit up with multi-colored lights, everyone became cheerful and festive. The children put the letter under the Christmas tree, but did not even notice when Grandfather Frost took it away. He always appears and disappears imperceptibly. mysterious and magical!
The long-awaited Christmas night has come. Parents covered festive table. What was not there! And oranges, and apples, and sweets. Where are the delicious strawberries? The children looked at each other, it was noticeable that they were upset, although they did not show it. The family sat down at the table and began to prepare for fortune-telling on coffee grounds. And at that moment, when the clock struck twelve times, there was a soft knock on the door. Dad listened, but the knock was repeated again. When he tiptoed over and opened the door, there was a large basket of juicy strawberries on the threshold. The kids were very happy with this delicious gift!
“Hasn’t the old magician forgotten about us! - the sisters said cheerfully and in amazement, imagining in advance sweet berry, melting in your mouth, it is especially delicious in my mother's cake with icing!
- We need to quickly run to the yard, because someone was knocking on our door! Maybe we will have time to thank Santa Claus! - the children shouted excitedly.
The girls called their father, mother and brother outside. They dressed warmly so as not to freeze. Looking up, the children saw Father Frost and his granddaughter Snegurochka flying across the sky on a sleigh pulled by reindeer. In the sleigh they had a bag with gifts for other obedient guys.
The girls clapped their hands in delight and shouted joyfully in the hope that their voice would be heard:
-Santa Claus! Snow Maiden! Get down to us! Let's eat juicy strawberries together!
Mom and dad looked at the sky, but didn’t notice anything, because they were adults and stopped believing in miracles, and my brother was still very small and saw only bright stars and a wonderful angel.
- How so? - the girls asked, - after all, you, too, were once small. Believe in fairy tales! Write letters to Santa Claus! Have you forgotten everything!? Close your eyes tighter and look up again. They are there! Get out their sleigh!
The parents looked at each other and smiled. They probably felt a little sad and hurt because, having stopped believing in miracles, they had nothing to answer to their daughters. Then they remembered everything: riding on a hill to knocked knees, broken noses, building a snowman near the home front garden, Christmas decorations from Grandma's chest of drawers, antique garlands and fortune-telling by candlelight on Christmas Eve.
Mom even threw a felt boot at the fork of four roads so that he predicted her betrothed! And, as if in childhood, the parents saw Santa Claus in the starry sky, and then they all shouted loudly together:
- Thank you, Santa Claus! Merry Christmas to you! All dreams come true on Christmas night. The main thing is to believe in miracles!
D about the beginning of long New Year holidays there is very little left, and you have work, preparation for the holidays, the choice of gifts, and there is absolutely no time to relax, or maybe not even that " new year mood, about which everyone talks so much.
Don't be sad! We have selected for you short stories and the stories of your favorite authors, which will improve your mood and will not take much time. Read on the run and enjoy the New Year and Christmas!
"Gifts of the Magi".
14 minutes
Readers know this story almost by heart, but still remember it year after year on Christmas Eve. The story of two "stupid kids" who donated the most expensive things for each other, has been inspiring us for more than a century. Its moral is this: no matter how poor you are, love makes you both rich and happy.
New Year's holiday of father and little daughter.
11 minutes
A very short and bright story about a man who spent best years life on some work unknown to the reader and not noticing how his daughter grew up.
IN " new year holiday..." one feels cold and hopeless, which the author himself experienced in an unheated St. Petersburg room in the terrible year 1922, but there is also that warmth that only close people can give. In the case of Green's hero, this is his daughter, Tavinia Drap, and in the case of the writer himself, his wife Nina Mironova.
"Angel".
25 minutes
Sasha is a thirteen-year-old teenager from a poor family, eccentric, embittered, used to enduring beatings and insults. On Christmas Eve, he is invited to a Christmas tree in a rich house, where the boy is surrounded by clean and happy children of the owners. In addition to this, he sees his father's first love. The woman he still remembers.
But on Christmas, as we remember, miracles happen, and Sasha's heart, which has been squeezed by an iron vise until now, melts at the sight of a toy angel. In an instant, his usual rudeness, hostility and callousness disappear.
"Christmas tree". Tove Jansson
15 minutes
A charming story about unknown to science, but so beloved Moomin. This time, Tove Jansson described how a familiar family celebrated Christmas. Not knowing what it is and how it is celebrated, the Moomin family managed to arrange a real holiday with a Christmas tree and gifts for whips (even more mysterious animals).
The story, of course, is for children, but adults will also be pleased to re-read it on New Year's Eve.
"Anniversary". Narine Abgaryan
20 minutes
A realistic story, devoid of even a hint of magic, nevertheless leads to the most joyful New Year's thoughts. "Jubilee" is a story of friendship, old and newly acquired, a break with an unpleasant past and the hope of fulfilling all the promises made with the advent of the New Year.
"Not just around Christmas."
30 minutes
A fly in the ointment in our barrel of honey: satirical story about how Christmas suddenly became a daily unbearable torture. At the same time, the whole essence of the holiday, its religious and moral overtones came to naught because of people's love for "tinsel". Masterpiece from the winner Nobel Prize in the literature of Heinrich Böll.
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1 hour, 20 minutes
Both adults and children know that the blacksmith Vakula had to make a deal with the devil himself for the sake of Oksana's little boots. "The Night Before Christmas" is the brightest, funniest and most atmospheric thing in Gogol's cycle "Evenings on a Farm near Dikanka", so do not take it for work, take an hour and a half for the pleasure of spending time with your favorite characters.
