5 CLASSIC CHRISTMAS STORIES features five popular and heartwarming holiday stories, including THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING, THE GIFT OF THE MAGI, THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER, THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL, and ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS.

1. THE NUTCRACKER AND THE MOUSE KING by E. T. A. Hoffmann

“The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” tells the story of a girl named Marie who receives a wooden nutcracker on Christmas Eve, which comes alive to battle the evil, seven-headed Mouse King and his army of mice. A surprise ending leads Marie to a magical kingdom of dolls.

CHAPTER 1—The Day Before
CHAPTER 2—The Gifts
CHAPTER 3—The Surprise
CHAPTER 4—Magic
CHAPTER 5—The Battle of the Sugar Bullets
CHAPTER 6—The Pleasant Surprise
CHAPTER 7—The Fairy Tale of the Hard Nut
CHAPTER 8—Continuation of The Fairy Tale of the Hard Nut
CHAPTER 9—Conclusion of The Fairy Tale of the Hard Nut
CHAPTER 10—The Victory
CHAPTER 11—The Kingdom Of The Dolls
CHAPTER 12—The Candy Capital
CHAPTER 13—Conclusion

2. THE GIFT OF THE MAGI by O. Henry

“The Gift of the Magi” is about a young couple, Della and Jim, who are struggling to afford Christmas gifts for each other due to their poverty. The story’s irony lies in the fact that their gifts are rendered useless by their mutual sacrifices, highlighting the depth of their love and the true meaning of giving.

3. THE ELVES AND THE SHOEMAKER by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm

“The Elves And The Shoemaker” introduces us to a poor shoemaker and his wife who find themselves in financial ruin until a pair of perfectly made shoes appears each morning, leading to prosperity. Who has been making them?

4. THE LITTLE MATCH GIRL by Hans Christian Andersen

“The Little Match Girl” concerns a poor, barefoot girl who is selling matches out in the freezing winds on New Year’s Eve. Huddled in an alley for warmth, she lights matches to see visions of a warm stove, a festive meal, and a beautiful Christmas tree.

5. ‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS by Clement-Clarke Moore

“‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” is a classic 1823 poem that describes the excitement on Christmas Eve. As the family settles to sleep, the narrator hears a commotion and sees St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) arriving with his flying reindeer and sleigh. Santa enters the home by going down the chimney, fills the stockings with toys, and then departs, leaving the family in wonder and joy.