The Story of Saint Nicholas
8 min read ages 7 and up
Christmas stories
Christmas stories by Andersen, Hoffmann and the Brothers Grimm to read on December evenings: The Snow Queen, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, Star Money and more.
Some of these take place at Christmas itself: the fir tree gets its wish, leaves the wood and stands decorated on Christmas Eve, the Nutcracker comes alive at midnight, and The Christmas Story goes back to the night in Bethlehem where it all began. The little match girl is out in the street on the last night of the year.
Several rest on one picture: frost outside, a lit window, and someone looking in or out of it. The tin soldier falls from such a window, and the Snow Queen first shows herself at a frosted one.
The endings are what surprise people about Andersen. Neither the match girl nor the tin soldier is saved, so it is worth knowing that before you start reading aloud. Star Money is the gentlest of them, and The Snow Queen and The Nutcracker, about a quarter of an hour each, are the longest.
Tales in this collection
9 tales
The Snow Queen
16 min read ages 6 and up
The Elves and the Shoemaker
4 min read ages 3 and up
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
16 min read ages 7 and up
The Steadfast Tin Soldier
6 min read ages 6 and up
The Little Match Girl
3 min read ages 6 and up
The Fir Tree
9 min read ages 6 and up
Star Money
3 min read ages 4 and up
The Christmas Story
4 min read ages 3 and up