One of the best collections on Fairytalez is our Christmas stories. As a follow-up to our previous blog post featuring Christmas fairy tales, we’re sharing some new delightful Christmas tales from France, Germany and other regions.
If you want to read more Christmas stories from around the world, buy Christmas Tales: The Night Before Christmas and 21 Other Christmas Stories, now available in Kindle and paperback. The holiday story treasury features more than 70 images and fairy tales from Norway, Germany, Bulgaria and other parts of the globe. Download the Fairytalez Audio App for audiobook versions and take the stories anywhere!
The Wooden Shoes of Little Wolff
Author Francis Coppe gives us this French Christmas folk tale of a little orphan boy’s gift from the heart. Little Wolff lives with his cruel aunt, who doesn’t give him the warm clothes and treats he deserves. The child is still generous, and gives his one meager possession to a homeless child on a cold Christmas night — when he wakes the next day, he sees his gift repaid. This Advanced tale can be read in 8 minutes.
Read The Wooden Shoes of Little Wolff
“Dreams on Christmas morning.” Illustration by G.A. Davis, published in The Christmas Book by G.A. Davis (1905), McLoughlin Bros.
The Christmas Tree Forest
Although we have Christmas stories from Germany and France, North America has a few beloved Christmas fairy tales of its own, with the Advanced level story The Christmas Tree Forest. The people of the Great Walled Country always find presents left in the forest by Grandfather Christmas and look forward to giving them to each. They get quite a surprise when a passing stranger tells them to seek out gifts for themselves instead. It’s a 14-minute read and is about how it’s better to give than receive.
Read The Christmas Tree Forest
The Legend of the Thunder Oak
An Intermediate Scandinavian folk tale, The Legend of the Thunder Oak is set in the times of the heathens and Thor. The Thunder Oak is Thor’s tree, and a place for sacrifice, until one night, when it becomes the first Christmas tree for the people. This Christmas legend, although an Intermediate story, may be not suitable for younger children. Read it in 3 minutes.
Read The Legend of the Thunder Oak
Babouscka
The Russian Christmas tale of Babouscka is about an old woman who misses a chance to greet the Christ child on the day of his birth. She regrets her choice and so she spends her Christmas days looking for the Child in every house and nursery she encounters. A retelling by Carolyn S. Bailey, this Advanced tale is just 9 minutes.
The Christmas Fairy of Strasburg
Frances Jenkins Olcott, children’s librarian and author, shares this 6-minute Advanced Christmas fairy tale from Germany. The Count Otto falls in love with the Queen of Fairies and marries her, promising never to utter a certain word. When he does, she disappears, and he lights a tree to attract her back — the people of Strasburg say this is the origin of the Christmas tree.
Read The Christmas Fairy of Strasburg
“Merry Christmas!” Illustration by W.W. Denslow, published in Denslow’s Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore (1902), M.A. Donohue and Co.
Could for what category a story is about, can you please add a poem category? I love writing poems and I don’t want people to mistake them for stories.
-Cora
Thanks for commenting! I’ll relay your requests to the development team.
I think also a category of Fanfics would be a good category
Any way the site could also feature podcasts like Singing Bones or my own Fairy Tales for Unwanted Children?