It is once again the most wonderful time of the year. For me personally, Christmas has always been a time of magic and nostalgia. It’s also a perfect time for fairy tales and feeling like anything can happen. Christianity is an important aspect of European fairy tales, especially messages about morality, goodness, and the spirit of giving. So let’s take a tour through the most famous Christmas fairy tales, shall we?
Now granted, Christmas fairy tales don’t just happen at Christmastime or mention Christmas. Sometimes they’re just winter fairy tales that capture the Christmas spirit. Or they’re famous Christmas stories that aren’t strictly in the fairy tale genre, but they capture the fairy tale spirit of uncanniness and enchantment. You’ll see what I mean . . .
12 Christmas Fairy Tales to Read this December
#1: A Visit from St. Nicholas
This famous poem written by American poet Clement Clarke Moore is perhaps the most famous Christmas poem ever written. And it certainly influenced much of our modern lore of Santa Claus. You might recognize the poem from its famous opening line: “T’was the night before Christmas.” Because it was first published anonymously in 1823 there’s a bit of controversy about whether Moore actually wrote it, but no matter who dreamed up this piece of literature, it’s beautiful and will put any reader into the Christmas spirit. Read It Here
#2: The Little Match Girl
Another super famous Christmas fairy tale. Hans Christian Andersen is pretty much the king of Christmas fairy tales, so this won’t be the last of his installments on this list. But “The Little Match Girl” tells the story of a poor little girl selling matches on New Year’s Eve. She strikes several matches to warm herself and experiences supernatural visions of Christmas cheer and her deceased grandmother, the one person who was ever kind to her. It’s a haunting story, but Andersen is known for his commentary on poverty. And technically this story does end with a note of hope. Read It Here
#3: The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
This German Christmas fairy tale was written by Prussian author E.T.A. Hoffman in 1816. And in case you were wondering, it did inspire the extremely famous ballet The Nutcracker. If you’re unfamiliar with the story (because you live under a rock?), it’s about a young girl who receives a nutcracker for Christmas. At the stroke of midnight, the nutcracker comes alive. After defeating the evil Mouse King in battle, the nutcracker whisks the little girl away to a magical kingdom where they have many adventures. Read It Here
#4. The Star Money
This fairy tale is from the Grimm Brothers and one I’d never read until today. In it, a poor orphan girl is destitute and homeless. But despite her situation, she still finds it in her kind heart to give away her last three possessions to others in need. Her selfless sacrifice is richly rewarded in the end. I was pleasantly surprised that this one had a happy ending with no gruesome cheap shots, which is kind of a Christmas miracle when you’re talking about the Grimm Brothers. I’ll take it. Read It Here
#5: The Legend of the Poinsettia
This is an oral tale from Mexico that explains why poinsettias are the ultimate Christmas flower. I didn’t know this, but apparently poinsettias are a native flower of Central America. In the legend, a little Mexican girl named Pepita is sad that she has no gift for the Christ child at Christmastime. Wanting to give the sacred baby something, she gathers some humble weeds from the side of the road and experiences a special Christmas miracle when she lays them at the nativity scene . . . Read It Here
#6: The Fir-Tree
Why, Hans, is that you again? Yet another installment by Hans Christian Andersen that happens at Christmas. In it, a young fir tree is dissatisfied in the forest. He wishes to grow bigger and taller to become a ship mast so he can go on great adventures. Eventually the fir tree is chopped down to become a Christmas tree. The ending is pretty sad, but ultimately this is a story about being in the present and being grateful for what you have rather than wishing away your life always thinking of the future. Read It Here
#7: St. Nicholas and the Children
Another Santa Claus story, but this one is from Canada. In this Christmas fairy tale, a set of twins named Pierre and Estelle set off on a journey to find food for their poor sick grandmother. A wise old man gives them a magic whistle to call for St. Nicholas should they need his help. And it isn’t long before the kids end up in the clutches of an evil butcher who’s in cahoots with a giant who eats children after they’ve been well pickled. But fear not! Jolly St. Nick comes to the rescue, and he’s got no qualms with capital punishment when it comes to these villains. Read It Here
#8: The Gift of the Magi
This one is a stretch to call it a fairy tale, but it’s such a classic that I had to include it. Also, I feel like next-level coincidence does count as magic. This famous short story written by American author O. Henry perfectly encapsulates the imperfectness of wanting to love your loved ones. Because sometimes trying to give someone the perfect gift can go awry. In this story, a married couple gives up their most prized possessions to afford Christmas gifts for each other—and the plot twist at the end is pretty heartwarming. Read It Here
#9: The Snow Queen
Yet another Hans Christian Andersen masterpiece! It might be a stretch to call this a Christmas fairy tale, but I don’t think so. First, it happens in deep winter. And the entire point of the story is the power of friendship and love conquering all by warming a frozen heart. I mean, it’s not exactly “The Grinch,” but I see the connection. And the winter magic of the Snow Queen makes it the perfect fairy tale to read in December. Read It Here
#10: Babouscka
This Russian Christmas fairy tale is about the Babouscka (meaning “grandmother”), a legendary Russian figure who wanders the land and brings gifts to children at Christmastime. In her story, the old woman lives alone and is consumed with her housework when the three wise men pay her a visit. They tell the Babouscka about the Christ Child they are going to visit and invite her to come with them. But she rejects their invitation, preferring to stay home and finish her chores before bed. But as the years go on, she comes to regret that fateful decision . . . Read It Here
#11: The Christmas Fairy of Strasburg
How about a little Christmas fairy tale featuring a fae queen and the origins of the Christmas tree? In this story from Germany, the handsome Count Otto of Strasburg visits a fairy spring and loses his gold ring in the magic water. When the Queen of the Fairies herself returns it to them, Otto is completely dazzled by her beauty and proposes to her on the spot. The queen agrees to be his bride on one condition: Otto must never ever utter one specific word in her presence . . . Read It Here
#12: A Christmas Carol
Although this is technically a novella, this Christmas masterpiece is ABSOLUTELY a fairy tale. A story about magic and the dark underbelly of London’s poverty? Ghostly visitations? Visions of alternate realities and apparitions of the past, present, and future? Sounds like a Christmas fairy tale to me! A Christmas Carol is without question Charles Dickens’s most famous work, and we’ve all seen movie adaptations of this phenomenal story. I still recommend the original story. It’s darker than most of the movies, but that also makes its happy ending all the more sweet and satisfying. Read It Here
