Friday, December 09, 2011

Friday Fives- Christmas Stories
















What are your FIVE favorite Christmas/holidays stories or novels?

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens- This story has been part of my holiday tradition for the last ten years.  I've worked on my theater's production in some way either big or small for the last 10 years.  I really like this year's version. I love this story of redemption and change.  I'm excited because our new version of the play includes the parts where he sees Belle after she has moved on and married someone else.  I like that part in the book and I'm glad it's part of our play now.  I also enjoy The Muppet Christmas Carol.
The Guthrie


The Muppets


 2. The House Without a Christmas Tree by Gail Rock- I read this in school and watched the TV special as well.  Addie Mills really wants a Christmas tree but her dad doesn't celebrate anymore cause it reminds him to much of Addie's mom. She wins a tree from school, brings it home and decorates it with decorations in the attic.  Dad remembers the joy of Christmas.
The House Without a Christmas Tree

3. The Christmas story from the Bible.  Growing up Catholic this was at the center of Christmas.  Not only would I hear it at school but also Midnight Mass with Mom.  My mom remarried and while we stopped going to midnight mass reading the Christmas story was an important part of our new family's Christmas tradition. Reading a combination of Matthew and Luke was a Christmas eve tradition.  Everyone read a verse from the littlest cousin who was just learning to read to our Grandma.  After we read we would sing Christmas carols.

4. Chapter 19 of Little House on the Prairie- Mr. Edwards Meets Santa Claus- If you grew up reading these books you probably know this chapter.  Basically Laura and Mary are worried Santa won't be able to make it to them because it hasn't snowed yet, the creek hasn't frozen and the water is too high.  Thank goodness for Mr. Edwards, who encounters Santa in town.

5. Twas the Night Before Christmas- I memorized this poem in first grade and it has been a favorite ever since.

5 comments:

Meredith said...

I had forgotten about that chapter in Little House on the Prairie! Aww, that was so cute!

Colin Smith said...

I didn't participate this week because I couldn't come up with five favorite Christmas stories. Though if we could extract chapters from books, I have to say I enjoyed Chapter 12 of Harry Potter and the Philosopher's/Sorcerer's Stone--Harry's first Christmas at Hogwarts. It holds a lot of meaning--moreso than Christmas in the other Potter books--because it's Harry's first where he gets meaningful gifts from people who really care about him. And he gets the Invisibility Cloak, which is itself significant, not only in terms of the plot, but also the fact that it was his father's.

Mary Aalgaard said...

Great selections. I remember that after school special. I liked it, too. And, cute clip of the Muppets.

Lindsay N. Currie said...

Awww, I love this post!!! I have to admit, I have a soft spot in my heart for Home Alone (the original one. . . not like the 10th one they made). I know, it isn't a book, but the whole movie makes me feel christmas-y. Making up words now. I better go before this goes any more downhill:)

Julie Flanders said...

I love the Muppets clip! And I had totally forgotten about the Little House on the Prairie chapter, now I want to read the book again. Great post. :)