I love Christmas! It is so magical, especially when it snows here in Northeast Ohio. And when it’s cold and snows, it’s time for Ultimate Hot Cocoa and reading!
Every year I read Christmas Carol and then on Christmas Eve I read Night Before Christmas to the kids. What’s really great about both of these is that they are in the public domain and anyone can get them to read for free.
You can find these and many other great Christmas stories at Project Gutenberg.
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
A Visit from Saint Nicholas by Clement C Moore
Children’s book of Christmas Stories
Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum
And of course, the old tradition of Christmas ghost stories. That’ right. In the Victorian era, it was custom to gather around the fireplace on Christmas Eve and tell ghost stories. In fact, Andy Williams sang of it in his Most Wonderful Time of the Year
There’ll be parties for hosting
Marshmallows for toasting
And caroling out in the snow
There’ll be scary ghost stories
There are actually quite a few available (besides Dickens Christmas Carol) at Project Gutenberg. Here are a couple to get your started.
The Abbot’s Ghost by Louisa May Alcott
Oh Whistle and I’ll Come to You, Lad by MR James
There was even an article in Smithsonian arguing that we should bring this tradition back:
Whether you choose to join the tradition of Christmas ghost stories or stick to the more standard ones without ghosts – there are plenty out there to read.
I also release a Christmas Story each year, with Amanda’s Christmas being the one for 2023. While this isn’t in the public domain, it is free, so please, download and check it out.
Last year I released one with the Oddish Questors.
