Christmas and Christmas story in Russian Literature XVIII-XXI centuries
miraculous winter holidays have long included and, probably, still include, and old folk festivals(pagan in origin), and ecclesiastical feast of the Nativity, and mundane New Year's holiday. Literature has always been a reflection of the life of the people and society, and even the mysterious Christmas theme- just a treasure trove fantastic stories, conveying the world of the wonderful and otherworldly, always bewitching and attracting the average reader.
Christmas time, according to the capacious expression of A. Shakhovsky, - "evenings of folk fun": fun, laughter, mischief are explained by a person’s desire to influence the future (in accordance with the proverb “as you started, so you finished” or with the modern one - “as you meet New Year, so you will spend it"). It was believed that the more fun a person spends the beginning of the year, the more prosperous the year will be ...
However, where there is excessive laughter, fun, provocativeness, there is always restless and even somehow disturbing ... This is where an intriguing plot begins to develop: detective, fantastic or simply romantic ... The plot is always timed to holy days – time from Christmas to Epiphany.
In Russian literature, the Christmas theme begins to develop from the middle 18th century: at first it was anonymous comedies about merrymaking, Christmas tales and stories. Their characteristic feature was the old idea that it is during the period of Christmas time that the greatest activity acquires " devilry"- devils, goblin, kikimors, banniks, etc. This emphasizes the hostility and danger of Christmas time ...
Divination, and caroling of mummers, and subservient songs were widely spread among the people. Meanwhile, Orthodox Church long time ago condemned such behavior is sinful. In the decree of Patriarch Joachim of 1684, which forbids Christmas "monsters", it is said that they lead a person into "soul-destructive sin." Christmas games, fortune-telling and masquerading (“Mask-people”, putting on “beast-like mugs”) have always been condemned by the Church.
Subsequently, there was a need for folk Christmas bylichki and stories to be literary processed. These began to be dealt with by writers, poets, ethnographers and folklorists, in particular M.D. Chulkov, which published during 1769 the humorous magazine "Both That and Sio", and F.D. Nefedov, since the end of the XIX century. publishing Christmas-themed magazines, and, of course, V.A. Zhukovsky who created the most popular Russian ballad "Svetlana", which is based on a folk story about a heroine fortune-telling at Christmas time ... Many poets also turned to the Christmas theme 19th century: A. Pushkin("Fortune-telling and Tatyana's dream"(excerpt from the novel "Eugene Onegin") A. Pleshcheev("The Legend of the Christ Child"), Ya. Polonsky ("Christmas tree"),A. Fet ("Divination") and etc.
Gradually, during the development of romanticism, the Christmas story attracts the whole world of the miraculous. Many of the stories are based on miracle of bethlehem, and this is just a transformation Christmas story in a Christmas story... Christmas Story in Russian literature, in contrast to Western literature, only by the 40s. 19th century this is explained by the different from Europe, the special role of the holiday. Christmas day- a great Christian holiday, the second most important after Easter. For a long time in Russia Christmas time was celebrated all over the world, and only the Church celebrated the Nativity of Christ.
In the West Christian tradition much earlier and more closely intertwined with paganism, in particular, this happened with the custom of decorating and lighting a Christmas tree for Christmas. The ancient pagan rite of honoring the tree has become a Christian custom. Christmas tree became a symbol of the Divine Child. The Christmas tree entered Russia late and took root slowly, like any Western innovation.
WITH mid-nineteenth V. the appearance of the first stories with a Christmas theme is also associated. More early texts, such as, "Christmas Eve"N.V. Gogol, are not indicative, firstly, Gogol's story depicts Christmas time in Ukraine, where the celebration and experience of Christmas was closer to the western one, and secondly, Gogol's pagan element ("devilry") prevails over the Christian one.
Another thing "Christmas Night" Moscow writer and actor K. Baranova, published in 1834. This is really a Christmas story: the motive of mercy and sympathy for the child, a typical motive of the Christmas story, turns out to be the leading one in it. The mass appearance of such texts is observed after they were translated into Russian. christmas stories Ch. Dickens early 1840s - " A Christmas Carol in Prose", "Bells", "Cricket on the Stove", and later others. These stories were a huge success with the Russian reader and gave rise to many imitations and variations. One of the first writers to turn to the Dickenian tradition was D.V. Grigorovich, who published in 1853 the story "Winter evening".
In the emergence of Russian Christmas prose important role played "Lord of the Fleas" And "Nutcracker"Hoffmann and some fairy tales Andersen, especially "Christmas tree" And "Girl with matches". Plot last fairy tale used F.M.Dostoevsky in the story "Christ's boy on the Christmas tree", and later V. Nemirovich-Danchenko in the story "Stupid Fedka".
The death of a child on Christmas night is an element of phantasmagoria and too terrible event, emphasizing the crime of all mankind in relation to children ... But from a Christian point of view, little heroes get true happiness not on earth, but in Heaven: they become angels and fall on the Christmas tree of Christ Himself. In fact, a miracle is happening: the miracle of Bethlehem repeatedly affects the fate of people ...
Later Christmas and Christmas stories almost all major prose writers have written To.XIX - n. XX centuries Christmas and Christmas stories could be funny and sad, funny and scary, they could end in a wedding or death of heroes, reconciliation or quarrel. But with all the diversity of their plots, they all had something in common - something that was in harmony with the festive mood of the reader, sometimes sentimental, sometimes unrestrainedly cheerful, invariably evoking a response in the hearts.
Each story was based on “a small event that has a completely Christmas character”(N.S. Leskov), which made it possible to give them a common subtitle. The terms "Christmas story" and "Christmas story", for the most part, were used as synonyms: in the texts under the heading "Christmas story" motifs related to the Christmas holiday could prevail, and the subtitle "Christmas story" did not imply the absence of folk motifs in the text. Christmas time…
The best examples of the genre created N.S. Leskov. In 1886, the writer writes a whole cycle "Christmas stories".
in the story "Pearl necklace" he reflects on the genre: “It is absolutely required from the Christmas story that it be timed to coincide with the events of the Christmas evening - from Christmas to Epiphany, so that it is somehow fantastic, had some morality... and finally - so that it ends without fail funny. In life, there are few such events, and therefore the author is not free to invent himself and compose a plot suitable for the program. Peculiar Christmas stories are and "Roly", And "At the holidays" A.P. Chekhov.
In n. 20th century., with the development of modernism in literature, parodies of the Christmas tree genre and playful recommendations began to appear on how Christmas stories should be composed. So, for example, in the newspaper "Rech" in 1909. O.L.D”or(Orsher I.) puts the following guide for young writers:
“Any man who has hands, two kopecks for paper, pen and ink, and has no talent, can write a Christmas story.
You just need to stick to known system and keep the following rules in mind:
1) Without pig, goose, Christmas tree and good man the Christmas story is not valid.
2) The words "nursery", "star" and "love" must be repeated at least ten, but not more than two or three thousand times.
3) bell ringing, tenderness and repentance should be at the end of the story, and not at the beginning of it.
All the rest does not matter".
Parodies testified that the Yuletide genre had exhausted its possibilities. Of course, one cannot fail to note the interest in the sphere of the spiritual among the intelligentsia of that time.
But the Christmas story is moving away from its traditional norms. Sometimes, as, for example, in the story V. Bryusova "The Child and the Madman", it makes it possible to depict mentally extreme situations: the Bethlehem miracle as an unconditional reality in the story is perceived only by a child and the mentally ill Semyon. In other cases, Christmas works are based on medieval and apocryphal texts, in which religious moods and feelings are especially intensively reproduced (the contribution of A.M. Remizova).
Sometimes, due to the reproduction of the historical situation, the Christmas story is given a special flavor (as, for example, in the story S. Auslander Christmas time in old Petersburg), sometimes the story gravitates towards an action-packed psychological novel.
He especially honored the traditions of the Christmas story A. Kuprin, creating wonderful examples of the genre - stories about faith, kindness and mercy "Poor Prince" And "Wonderful doctor", as well as writers of the Russian diaspora I.A. Bunin ("Epiphany Night" and etc.), I.S. Shmelev ("Christmas" etc.) and V.Nikiforov-Volgin (« silver blizzard» and etc.).
In many holiday stories childhood theme- main. This theme is developed statesman and Christian thinker K. Pobedonostsev in your essay "Christmas": “The Nativity of Christ and Holy Pascha are primarily children's holidays, and in them the power of Christ's words seems to be fulfilled: Unless you are like children, do not enter into the kingdom of God. Other holidays are not so accessible to children's understanding ... "
“A quiet night over the Palestinian fields, a secluded nativity scene, a manger. Surrounded by those domestic animals that are familiar to the child from the first impressions of memory - in the manger a twisted Infant and meek over Him, loving mother with a thoughtful look and a clear smile of maternal happiness - three magnificent kings, following a star to a wretched den with gifts, - and far away in the field, shepherds in the middle of their flock, listening to the joyful news of the Angel and the mysterious choir of the Powers of Heaven. Then the villain Herod, pursuing the innocent Child; the massacre of babies in Bethlehem, then the journey of the holy family to Egypt - how much life and action in all this, how much interest for the child!
And not only for a child ... Holy days are amazing time when everyone becomes children: simple, sincere, open, kind and loving to everyone. 
Later, and not surprisingly, the Christmas story "revolutionarily" reincarnated as New Year. New Year as a holiday supplants Christmas, Christ the Child comes to replace kind grandfather Frost... But the state of awe and the expectation of a miracle is also present in the "new" stories. "Yolka in Sokolniki", "Three assassination attempts on V.I. Lenin" V.D. Bonch-Bruevich,"Chuk and Gek" A. Gaidar- one of the best Soviet idylls. Undoubtedly, the orientation to this tradition of films is also undeniable. E. Ryazanova « Carnival Night» And "Irony of Fate or Enjoy Your Bath"…
Christmas and Christmas stories are returning to the pages of modern newspapers and magazines. Several factors play a special role here. Firstly, the desire to restore the broken connection of times, and in particular, the Orthodox worldview. Second, return to many customs and forms cultural life that were so forcibly interrupted. The traditions of the Christmas story are continued by modern children's writers. S. Serova, E. Chudinova, Yu. Voznesenskaya, E. Sanin (Mont. Varnava) and etc.
Christmas reading has always been a special reading, because it is about the sublime and non-futile. Holy days are a time of silence and a time for such enjoy reading. Indeed, after such a great holiday - the Nativity of Christ - the reader simply cannot afford anything that would distract him from lofty thoughts about God, about kindness, mercy, compassion and love ... Let's use this precious time!
Prepared by L.V. Shishlova
Used Books:
- The Miracle of Christmas Night: Yuletide Stories / Comp., Intro. st., note. E. Dushechkina, H. Barana. - St. Petersburg: Artist. Lit., 1993.
- Star of Bethlehem. Christmas and Easter in verse and prose: Collection / Comp. and entered. M. Written, - M .: Det. lit., - 1993.
- Christmas Star: Yuletide Stories and Poems / Comp. E. Trostnikova. - M .: Bustard, 2003
- Leskov N.S. Sobr. Op. in 11 vols. M., 1958. v.7.
Christmas stories are a special genre that each writer understands in his own way. Some believe that good magic must happen at the end, others that the story should remind of those who are not so fun at Christmas. "Mel" collected six different stories- joyful, sad, instructive - which can be read and discussed with children on Christmas Eve.
For those who are preparing for the main school exam
1. Gianni Rodari« Journey of the Blue Arrow»
“If you misbehave, your toys will go to another boy,” perhaps this threat in childhood made someone go to bed on time and clean the room. But if toys could actually choose their owners: obedience would hardly be the main criterion.
Yellow Bear, Great Chief Silver Feather, Rag Dog Button and Three Puppets whole year wondering who they will fall under the Christmas tree, watching the children passing by the window of a toy store. In the original Italian fairy tale children's writer Gianni Rodari they are waiting for Christmas, and in Russian translation - New Year.
Fairy is in charge of the store - though not air creation with wings, as you might think, but "a well-mannered old signora." Good-natured, but stingy. This means that little Francesco Monti is definitely not entitled to any gift for the New Year, because his name is recorded in the debt book. Over the past two years, Francesco's mother has already owed the Fairy for a toy top and a horse.
But the toys did not see the debt book, but only the sad eyes of the boy who every day came to the window to look at the wonderful electric train with two barriers and a station, called the Blue Arrow by the Fairy. Having learned that the Fairy is going to leave him without a gift, the toys decide to arrange a real miracle for him and give him themselves.
- But this is a riot! exclaimed the General. - I can't afford such a thing. I suggest you obey my orders!
And go where the Fairy takes us? Then Francesco will not receive anything this year either, because his name is written in the debt book ...
Thousand whales!..»
2. Fyodor Dostoevsky "Christ's boy on the Christmas tree"
Let the story about the "Christ Tree" be fictional, but the boy in it is the real one - a little beggar about seven years old, whom the writer met several times on the same corner. This is a story about him and other boys and girls who really want to spin around the Christmas tree, laugh and unwrap packages with gifts. But they only look at other boys and girls in elegant dresses, flattening their nose against the glass, and stand at the windows until their hands without mittens ache from the cold. And at home they are waiting only for beatings and abuse. And one day they also get to the Christmas tree, where everything is fine, and everything glitters and shines, and their mothers look at them and laugh joyfully.
"Let's go to my Christmas tree, boy," a quiet voice suddenly whispered above him.
... Christ always has a Christmas tree on this day for little children who do not have their own Christmas tree there ... - And he found out that these boys and girls were all the same as him, children, but some were still frozen in their baskets, in which they were thrown on the stairs to the doors of St. Petersburg officials, others suffocated at the little huts, from the orphanage for feeding, the third died at the withered breasts of their mothers during the Samara famine, the fourth suffocated in the third-class carriages from the stench, and that’s all they are now here ” .
3. Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol"
The famous miser Scrooge, whose name has become a household name for greedy businessmen, first appeared in a Dickens Christmas story. And he didn't just show up. In the 40s of the twentieth century, there were very difficult working conditions in English factories, including for children, and the writer was asked to advocate for a law to limit the working day. So a cycle of Christmas stories appeared, the first of which was the story of the old miserly Scrooge.
For Scrooge, Christmas is an empty fuss, because this day does not bring any benefits, only expenses. On Christmas Eve, he reluctantly releases his worker from the office to his family, and he himself goes home alone. At home, he is visited by the spirit of his deceased companion, who during his lifetime was as callous as Scrooge. The spirit warns Scrooge that after death he will face terrible torment if he does not stop being indifferent to other people's misfortunes. Over the next three nights, Scrooge, along with the spirits, travels through the past, present and future and discovers a world he has not seen behind bonds and securities.
What would you like? the Spirit asked him.
Nothing, said Scrooge. - Nothing. Last night a little boy sang a Christmas song at my door. I would like to give him something, that's all."
4. Pavel Zasodimsky "Snowstorm and Blizzard"
The girl Masha lives in a non-native family in Dog Lane, and at Christmas the same story happens to her that changed the life of Cosette from Hugo's novel. The hostess sends her into the cold to buy candles, and, stumbling, the girl loses a coin. Now you can’t even buy a candle, and it’s scary to return home - they will beat you. Frozen Cosette is found by the fugitive convict Jean Valjean, and Masha, who fumbles in the snow with her hands, is found by a simple worker Ivan. The worker misses the deceased three years ago younger brother. He takes the girl to him, calls her sister, and decorates for her the first Christmas tree in his life.
“On this Christmas tree, a dozen multi-colored wax candles Yes, hung walnuts, gingerbread and candy; there were, however, between them two or three sweets with colored pictures. This modest Christmas tree seemed delightful to Masha. She had never experienced such joy at Christmas time, at least she does not remember. Masha forgot the hostess, and the cruel hostess brother, and the snowstorm, and the blizzard that raged outside the window, forgot her grief and tears and ran around the Christmas tree, clapping her hands and tilting to herself one or the other green twig.
5. Hans Christian Andersen "Christmas tree"
What will Christmas be like if you look at it through the eyes of a Christmas tree? After all, before she was chosen, brought home and decorated with tinsel, she had her own, forest life. She grew up, reaching for the sun and wondering where the trees go after people cut them down with an ax.
The Christmas tree in Andersen's story is a vain person. She does not rejoice in her youth and freshness, but only waits until she finally grows up so big and beautiful that people will notice her. From the stories of sparrows, she knows that she will stand in a warm room and shine with the light of a thousand candles. Finally, the Christmas tree is cut down, but her happiness is short-lived. From a warm and bright living room, she is soon removed to a closet, and then completely thrown away. But the Christmas tree always thinks that something special is waiting for her ahead.
““Now I’ll live,” the tree rejoiced, straightening its branches. And the branches were all dried up and yellowed, and she lay in the corner of the yard in nettles and weeds. But at the top of it still sat a star made of gilded paper and sparkled in the sun.
6. Alexander Kuprin "The Poor Prince"
In fact, Danya is not a prince, but the most ordinary boy. And not at all poor - in any case, growing in prosperous family, and at Christmas a decorated Christmas tree is waiting for him and fun party with other dressy children. But this holiday is arranged by adults who do not understand anything at all in fun - they will surely make them dance and clap their hands in an organized manner.
“And what is fun, to tell the truth, in this Christmas tree? Well, familiar boys and girls will come and pretend to please big, smart and well-mannered children ... Each governess or some old aunt ... They will make them speak English all the time ... names of animals, plants or cities, and adults will intervene and correct the little ones.
Danya is bored walking around the Christmas tree, because he is already quite big and dreams of becoming an aviator or a polar explorer. Most of all, Dana wants to join the street boys from a neighboring house - the children of shoemakers, janitors and laundresses. He heard from the nanny that around Christmas they all go caroling together with a home-made multi-colored star and a den with a candle inside. Danya is forbidden to communicate with "bad children", and looking at them from the window, he seems to be himself an enchanted prince, who is forced to live in a boring, albeit rich kingdom.
“An insanely bold thought flashes through Dani's head - so bold that he even bites his lower lip for a minute, makes big, frightened eyes and cringes. But isn't he really an aviator and a polar explorer? After all, sooner or later you will have to frankly tell your father: “You, dad, don’t worry, please, but today I’m going on my airplane across the ocean.” Compared to such terrible words, dressing quietly and running out into the street is mere trifles.
In Rus', Christmas time (the period from Christmas to Epiphany, which before the revolution included the celebration of the New Year) has always been special time. At this time, the old people gathered and told each other wonderful stories about what could be done on the eve and after Christmas. From these stories - sometimes funny, sometimes scary - Christmas stories arose - special kind texts in which the action could only take place on the New Year, Christmas or on the eve of Epiphany. This time reference has led researchers to consider them a kind of calendar literature.
The expression "Christmas stories" was first used in 1826 by Nikolai Polevoy in the Moscow Telegraph magazine, telling readers about how Moscow old people at Christmas time remembered their youth and told each other different stories. This literary device later other Russian writers began to use it.
However, even in early XIX For centuries, narratives close to Christmastide stories about the search for a betrothed, the romantic translated ballads of Vasily Andreevich Zhukovsky "Lyudmila" and "Svetlana", Gogol's "The Night Before Christmas" were popular.
The Christmas stories familiar to us appear only after the forties of the 19th century, when Charles Dickens's collection A Christmas Carol in Prose was translated in Russia, and from that moment the genre flourished. Christmas stories are written by Dostoevsky, Leskov, Chekhov, and until the 80-90s 19th century real masterpieces are coming out (“The Boy at Christ on the Christmas Tree”, “Vanka”), but already in late XIX century genre Christmas stories starts to break down.
Many magazines appeared in Russia, journalists and writers were forced every year at the same time to come up with texts on Christmas themes, which led to repetition and irony, about which Nikolai Leskov, one of the founders of the Russian Christmas story, wrote sadly. He, in the preface to The Pearl Necklace, named the signs of a good Christmas story: “ From the Christmas story it is absolutely required that it be timed to coincide with the events of the Christmas evening - from Christmas to Epiphany, that it be somewhat fantastic, have some kind of morality, at least like a refutation of a harmful prejudice, and finally - that it ends without fail cheerfully.
Note that in the best examples of this genre you can rarely find happy ending: much more often Chekhov, Dostoevsky and Leskov spoke about the tragedy of life " little man”, that he does not use his chance or harbors false hopes. Vanka Zhukov on Christmas Eve writes a letter “to the village of grandfather”, and asks to be taken away from the city, but this letter will never reach the addressee, the boy’s life will remain difficult.
However, there were and are other stories happy ending, where good triumphs over evil, and the reader can get acquainted with them on the Foma website, which contains modern examples of this genre. Be warned that we are talking about texts for adults.. A Christmas story for children is a topic for a separate conversation, which will definitely take place.
One of the best texts in our collection can be considered tragic story the boy Yurka and his drinking parents. "Yurka's Christmas". At first glance, this text does not leave the reader a chance for happiness and justice, but the Christmas miracle still happens, it opens in the fate of the protagonist, who managed to save himself and regain his loved one.
The reader will learn about the duel between St. Nicholas and Jack Frost (the English equivalent of Santa Claus) for the life of one artist.
Even from this small selection you can see how different a Christmas story can be. We hope that each of our readers will be able to find a text that will fill his heart with the experience of Christmas, help him take a fresh look at his life and at the same time give him a little joy and hope.
Christmas stories of Russian writers / comp. T. V. Strygina. - M. : Nikea, 2017. - 432 p. - (A Christmas gift).
Yuletide stories in Russian literature are an almost forgotten phenomenon. years Soviet power they tried to eradicate from the consciousness of the Russian people the feeling of a miracle and the holiday of Christmas. But the memory remained, and modern writers still returned to it in their works. AND this collection- a clear confirmation of this.
What are the Christmas stories about? In Christmas stories, there is traditionally a miracle, and the heroes overcome trials with the strength of spirit and love, do good, despite the obstacles of the outside world. This book contains stories of classic writers such as A. Bestuzhev-Marlinsky, N. Gogol, N. Leskov, A. Kuprin, I. Shmelev and stories of modern prose writers such as N. Klyuchareva, O. Nikolaeva, V. Kaplan , B. Ekimov, N. Agafonov, K. Parkhomenko and others.
About genre features of the Christmas story (and they were created strictly according to certain literary canons), the Russian writer Nikolai Leskov accurately said: some moral ... and finally, - so that it ends without fail cheerfully.
And this is confirmed by the intriguing story of Nikolai Leskov about the family jewel "Pearl Necklace" or fatal love affair the protagonist in Alexander Bestuzhev-Marlinsky's story "The Terrible Fortune-telling", or the blacksmith Vakula's journey full of dangers for laces for his beloved Oksana from Nikolai Gogol's story "The Night Before Christmas", Alexander Kuprin's phantasmagoric story "Millionaire" about the thirst for wealth of the "little man" and ghostliness achieve this golden dream. The memoirs of Ivan Shmelev, written in distant emigration, in the stories "Christmas and Christmas time" about the anticipation of Christmas in early childhood, about home preparations for the holiday and about those poor and unfortunate people whom she welcomed these days hospitable family writer. In the Christmas stories of Nikolai Pozdnyakov "On a hairline" and "Revolver" shows the facets human personality, fatal deeds, for which it is then a shame.
The story of Archpriest Nikolai Agafonov “The Werewolf” tells about the celebration of Christmas by monks in a poor monastery being revived, about prejudices and about a real Christmas miracle of mercy and love. The story "Readers" illuminates the complex life story former chorister and cathedral reader Sergei Avdeev, whose once amazing voice led one of the seminarians to deep faith. In Boris Ekimov's Christmas story "For warm bread” shows the lonely old age of two elderly people and hopeless poverty, the lack of the necessary. And, despite the fact that grandfather Arkhip's trip to the city for coal turns into disappointment and resentment, the taste of fresh bread revives him and returns the desire to live. The poignant story of Vasily Kaplan "Learning Star" plunges us into the era of the criminal 90s, hard way to the faith of one of the heroes and gaining simple human happiness through suffering. Did the teacher of physics Mikhail Nikolaevich, returning from the nightly Christmas service, think that life would soon present him with a terrible surprise, but the providence of God would turn out to be stronger than the fierce laws of life.
The Christmas excerpt from Olesya Nikolaeva's story "It's okay" shows the story of rejection, hatred and love of two pure and beautiful-hearted young people - Anastasia and Alexei. Disagreements over the subtleties of faith, prejudices and doubts for a very long time prevented two lovers from finding their happiness. And they would never have reunited if not for one criminal circumstance. And in the Christmas story of Maxim Yakovlev "Kalyamka" the main character, a little boy from orphanage, taken to a foster family, really wants to know: is the real Santa Claus sitting under a thuja in the garden and what is in his bag. The discovery shocked little Kalyamka so much that the already elderly Nikolai Petrovich cannot forget this episode from his distant childhood. In the story "A Gift of Random" the main character stands at a crossroads: to help a boy begging for alms or to pass by indifferently. And if he helps, then what will happen...?
In the amazing short story of our countrywoman Natalia Klyuchareva "Yurkino Christmas" a tragedy is shown drinking family and the forgotten schoolboy Yurka. The lesson that life taught him made his heart cold and cruel. And only a Christmas tree can melt this deep ice…. And the Christmas story of Archpriest Konstantin Parkhomenko " Christmas miracle at polar circle” tells about the amazing journey to Yakutia of a St. Petersburg student Suzy and her desire to help a boy dying of leukemia. What trials awaited the inexperienced traveler Suzy, and what a miracle shocked her - the author of this mystical novel tells about this very vividly and fascinatingly. The story of Larisa Podistova "Christmas, Mom" is dedicated to the relationship between mother and son, and his main point in that good should be done in time, and parents should be loved while they are alive. In the story of the priest Alexander Shantaev "On a holiday" and "Katin's dream" Christmas appears as a miracle of the transformation of life, giving warm light hope. In the stories of Sergei Durylin "In the native corner" and "The Fourth Magus" - children's touching memories of the Christmas holiday and the wonderful discoveries associated with it, about the light human soul, about unearthly joy and the hope that it will always be so.
The collection of Christmas stories by Russian writers is very bright, emotional and kind. The topics covered in it are eternal and will never lose their relevance. And the bright holiday of Christmas after reading this book will become closer and more desirable.
“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 a special genre of 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 that 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 on Christmas very meanly acted with her stepson, 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
Selma Lagerlöf's story 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 are devoted to describing 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?
