Christmas Stories from around the World!

</head> <body> Christmas Stories Happy Holidays from the Children's Literature Web Guide What better way to celebrate the holidays than to gather the family around the computer and read a story? I'm only kidding. Really. However, there are a lot of Christmas stories available online. Here is a selection of what I have found. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find many stories of Hannukah, or Divali, or Kwanzaa, or other festivals that occur at the same time of year. However, some of the Festivals of Light links at the bottom of this page may lead you to worhtwhile resources. And now, on to the stories. The Last Christmas Tree, an original Christmas story. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum (1902) A Kidnapped Santa Claus, by L. Frank Baum (1904) Sally Saves Christmas, a story published only on the web, by Alexander Cima. A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens. Dulce Domum, the Christmas chapter from The Wind in the Willows, by Kenneth Grahame. The Gift of the Magi, by O.Henry. Selections from Good Stories for Great Holidays, by Frances Olcott Jenkins (1914) Your homepage for Toys and Games for the Holidays! Little Piccola, after Celia Thaxter The Stranger Child: A Legend, by Count Franz Pocci [Translated] The Christmas Rose: An Old Legend, by Lizzie Deas [Adapted] The Wooden Shoes of Little Wolff, by François Coppée [Adapted] The Pine Tree, by Hans Christian Andersen [Translated] The Christmas Cuckoo, by Frances Browne [Adapted] The Christmas Fairy of Strasburg: A German Folk-Tale, by J. Stirling Coyne [Adapted] The Three Purses: A Legend, by William S. Walsh [Adapted] The Thunder Oak: A Scandinavian Legend, Willaim S. Walsh and other sources The Christmas Thorn of Glastonbury: A Legend of Ancient Britain, adapted from William of Malmesbury and other sources The Three Kings of Cologne: A Legend of the Middle Ages, by John of Hildesheim; modernized by H.S. Morris [Adapted] Why the Evergreen Trees Never Lose Their Leaves: An Old Legend, by Florence Holbrook The Night Before Christmas (A Visit from Saint Nicholas), by Clement Clarke Moore. The Little Girl Santa Claus Didn't Know, by Martin Nygaard. The Last Christmas, the beginning of a screenplay for an animated film. From the Realist Wonder Society site. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, by Dr. Seuss. Complete with illustrations. The Baker's Dozen: A Saint Nicholas Tale. A readers' theatre script suggested for grades 3-7. Adapted from the book by Aaron Shepard (Atheneum, New York, 1995). The Selfish Giant, by Oscar Wilde. Festivals of Light There are a lot of Christmas Web pages out there! These look like good starting points for information about Christmas, Hanukkah, and other Festivals of Light. Christmas 'round the World (Wide Web). Christmas Around the World Kwanzaa Information Center The History of Christmas. <p>  The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years. Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated centuries before the Christ child was born. The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades) with floats, carolers who sing while going from house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians. <br>Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk. Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's festival that lasted for 12 days. <p>Story continues below - Christmas Story continues below <p>The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god. The traditions called for the king to die at the end of the year and to return with Marduk to battle at his side. <p>To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea of a "mock" king. A criminal was chosen and dressed in royal clothes. He was given all the respect and privileges of a real king. At the end of the celebration the "mock" king was stripped of the royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king. <p>The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the exchanging of places, the slaves would become the masters and the masters were to obey. <p>Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches, ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached, with its long cold nights and short days, many people feared the sun would not return. Special rituals and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun. <p>In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would return with the good news. A great festival would be held, called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served around a fire burning with the Yule log. Great bonfires would also be lit to celebrate the return of the sun. In some areas people would tie apples to branches of trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return. <p>The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans. <p>The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits). <p>The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters and slaves would exchange places. <p>"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans, but the Christians though it an abomination to honor the pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday, not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia. <p>But as Christianity spread they were alarmed by the continuing celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts. At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was to no avail. Eventually it was decided that the celebration would be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God. <p>Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December. The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas. <p>The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed. Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD. In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 350 AD another Bishop of Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas. <br>  <p>The Very First Story of Christmas <p>    Once upon a time in the land of Judah, there was a man named Isaiah. <p>    One day he saw a vision concerning Judah and Jerusalem in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah. He said that the Lord himself shall give a sign: <p>" Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Emmanuel. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever." <p> This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: <p>  In the city of Galilee, there was a small town named Nazareth. There lived a girl called Mary who was promised in marriage to a descendant of King David named Joseph. <p>Later, angel Gabriel was sent by God to speak to Mary, <br>"Mary, God has been gracious to you. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High God. God will make him a king, as the king of the descendants of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end!" <p>Mary said to the angel, "I am a virgin. How , then, can this be?" <p>       The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and God's power will rest upon you.For this reason the holy child will be called the son of God. There is not a thing that God cannot do." <p>"I am the Lord's servant," said Mary; "may it happen to me as you have said." And the angel left her. <p>      Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to disgrace Mary publicly, was minded to break the engagement secretly. But while he was thinking about this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, <p>"Joseph, descendant of David, do not fear to take Mary to be your wife. For it is by the Holy Spirit that she has conceived.She will give birth to son, and you will name him JESUS: for he will save his people from their sins." <p>     Now all this happened in order to fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet, <p>"The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and he will be called Emmanuel, which means God is with us." <p>      So when Joseph woke up he did what the angel had told him and married Mary. <p>At that time Emperor Augustus sent out an order for all the citizens of the Empire to register themselves for the census. Everyone, then went to register himself, each to his own town. <p>Joseph went from the town of Nazareth, in Galilee, to Judea, to the town named Bethlehem, where King David was born. <p>Joseph went there because he was a descandant of David. He went to register himself with Mary, who was promised in marriage to him. She was pregnant, and while they were in Bethlehem, the time came for her to give birth. <p>As there were so many people going back to their hometown for registration, Joseph and Mary could find no room for them in the inn. Then they came to a manger where Mary gave birth to her first son, Jesus. <p>   And in the same country there were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. An angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them. They were terribly afraid, but the angel said to them, <p>"Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." <p>And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host singing praises to God, <p>"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." <p>When the angels went away from them back into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, <p>"Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, that the Lord has told us." <p>So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and saw the baby lying in the manager. When the shepherds saw him they told them what the angel had said about this child. All who heard it were filled with wonder at what the shepherds told them. Mary rmembered all these things and thought deeply about them. <p>The shepherds went back, singing praises to God for all they had heard and seen; <br>it had just as the angel had told them. <p>Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of King Herod , <br>there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, <br>"Where is the baby born to be the king of the Jews? For we saw his star came <br>up in the east, and we have come to worship him." <p>When King Herod heard about these he was very troubled, and so was everyone else in Jerusalem . He called together all the chief priests and the teachers of the Law and asked them, :Where will the Messiah be born?" <p>"In the town of Bethlehem, in Judea," they answered. "This is what the prophet wrote: <p>"And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda:for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel." <p> Then Herod called the wise men secretly and found out from them the exact time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, <p>"Go and search carefully for the young child; and when you find him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also." <p>    Then they departed and on thier way they saw the star--the same one they had seen in the east--and it went ahead of them until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. <p>       When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they went into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother. They knelt down and worshipped him; then they opened their bags of treasures, offered him gifts: gold, myrrh and frankincense. <p>      God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod; so they went back to their country by another road. <p>THIS CHRISTMAS MESSAGE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY <br>GOD, OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN. <p>Muslim's Survival Guide to Christmas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___ | | | ___ | | /| | | | | | | _| | | | _| | /_| | | | | | | | o_|__|____| | | | o |_o____| | | |__|__| | o_|__|__|___| ___/ oo ___| |___| ___| ___/ o In the name of ALLAH, the Beneficent, the Merciful ********** +++++ CONTENTS +++++ ********** 1. CHRISTIANITY, JESUS- AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE 2. SANTA CLAUS, NOT OF CHRISTIAN ORIGIN =================================================================== ******************************************************************* =================================================================== 1. CHRISTIANITY, JESUS- AN ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ============================================== Christmas holidays come and go each year with a lot of shopping, hustle and bustle, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, decorations and lights. The Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus. In this article, we will address the following questions relying mostly on quotations from the Holy Quran: What are the origins of Christianity? Was Jesus born without a father? Is Jesus a son of God? Did Jesus speak as a baby? Was he crucified? THE ORIGINS OF CHRISTIANITY --------------------------- Historical facts reveal that Jesus did not use the word Christianity. He and his followers used to worship in the temple which other Israelites used. The message of Jesus was to call people back to the religion of Abraham and Moses from which they had gone astray. After the disappearance of Jesus, Paul declared that belief in Jesus sufficed for salvation. The Jewish scholars of that time called the followers of prophet Jesus the misguided sect of Nazarene or Galilaens. In 43 C.E., when Paul and Barnabas went to Antioch to preach, they were ridiculed and were called Christians by the masses. The ones who were called Christians felt that if they are being given a name in reference to Jesus, there is nothing wrong in accepting it. A present day analogy may be the case of Muslims being called Mohammedans in the West and Muslims giving in to the name. PAUL ALTERED THE MESSAGE ------------------------ At the beginning, Paul was a staunch opponent of prophet Jesus and remained so for many years after his ascension. When he did join the followers of Jesus later on, he initiated many alterations in the teachings of Jesus in hopes of winning over the Gentiles (non-Jewish people). He introduced the following concepts into Christianity: 1. the concept of Jesus as son of God; 2. Jesus died on the cross to wash eternal sins of Adam's children through his blood; and 3. the Law of Torah was renounced. He eliminated all regulations concerning food and abrogated the injunctions of circumcision. The real followers of Jesus opposed these blatant misrepresentations of the message of Jesus. Their struggle to reject the notion of Divinity of Jesus continued for about two hundred years. Since these alterations were very appealing to the Gentiles, the true believers were unable to stop the misguidance. In 325 C.E., a council of Christian leaders met at Nicaea and officiated Paul's beliefs as their religion. Roman Empire declared Paul's religion as the religion of the State and all those books which denied these beliefs were banned. In 367 C.E., the State announced a list of books acceptable to it and fifteen years later, a council held under the presidency of Pope Damasius gave its approval to these books. At the end of the fifth century, Pope Galasius published a list of unauthorized books (Apocryphal) to further conform with Paul's religion of Christianity. JESUS BORN WITHOUT A FATHER --------------------------- The true story of Jesus' birth from Mary is told in the Holy Quran. We are told that he was born without a father by the command of God. Mary was single and a chaste woman. 21:91 And (remember) her who guarded her chastity: We breathed into her of Our Spirit, and We made her and her son a Sign for all peoples. 19:16 Relate in the Book (the story of) Mary, when she withdrew from her family to a place in the East. 19:17 She placed a screen (to screen herself) from them: then We sent to her Our angel, and he appeared before her as a man in all respects. 19:18 She said: "I seek refuge from thee to (God) Most Gracious: (come not near) if thou dost fear God." 19:19 He said: "Nay, I am only a messenger from thy Lord, (to announce) to thee the gift of a holy son." 19:20 She said: "How shall I have a son, seeing that no man has touched me, and I am not unchaste?" 19:21 He said: "So (it will be): thy Lord saith, `That is easy for Me: and (We wish) to appoint him as a Sign unto men and a Mercy from Us': it is a matter (so) decreed." 19:22 So she conceived him, and she retired with him to a remote place. 19:23 And the pains of childbirth drove her to the trunk of a palm-tree: she cried (in her anguish): "Ah! would that I had died before this! Would that I had been a thing forgotten and out of sight!" 19:24 But (a voice) cried to her from beneath the (palm-tree): "Grieve not! for thy Lord hath provided a rivulet beneath thee; 19:25 "And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm-tree: it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee. 19:26 "So eat and drink and cool (thine) eyes. And if thou dost see any man, say, `I have vowed a fast to (God) Most Gracious, and this day will I enter into no talk with any human being.' " JESUS SPOKE AS A BABY --------------------- 19:27 At length she brought the (babe) to her people, carrying him (in her arms). They said: "O Mary! truly an amazing thing hast thou brought! 19:28 "O sister of Aaron! thy father was not a man of evil, nor thy mother a woman unchaste!" 19:29 But she pointed to the babe. They said: "How can we talk to one who is a child in the cradle?" 19:30 He said: "I am indeed a servant of God: He hath given me revelation and made me a prophet; 19:31 "And He hath made me Blessed wheresoever I be, and hath enjoined on me Prayer and Charity as long as I live; 19:32 "(He) hath made me kind to my mother, and not overbearing or miserable; 19:33 "So Peace is on me the day I was born, the day that I die, and the Day that I shall be raised up to life (again)"! 19:34 Such (was) Jesus the son of Mary: (it is) a statement of truth, about which they (vainly) dispute. 19:35 It is not befitting to (the majesty of) God that He should beget a son. Glory be to Him! When He determines a matter, He only says to it, "Be," and it is. 19:36 Verily, God is my Lord and your Lord: Him therefore serve ye: this is a Way that is straight. 19:37 But the sects differ among themselves: and woe to the Unbelievers because of the (coming) Judgment of a momentous Day! HE BEGETS NOT! -------------- We note that the Holy Quran refers to Jesus as 'Jesus ibn Maryam', i.e., Jesus son of Mary. It is in contrast to the common usage in which children are referred to by their father's name and not by their mother's name. He is not a son of God. The following chapter from the Holy Quran explains the position of Islam in absolute terms: SAY: "God is Unique!! God, the Source [of everything]. He has not fathered anyone nor was He fathered, and there is nothing comparable to Him!" (Chapter 112) JESUS WAS NOT CRUCIFIED ----------------------- The Holy Quran also rejects the claim that Jesus was killed on the cross. 4:157 That they said (in boast), "We killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, the Apostle of God"; but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but so it was made to appear to them, and those who differ therein are full of doubts, with no (certain) knowledge, but only conjecture to follow for of a surety they killed him not. 4:158 Nay, God raised him up unto Himself; and God is Exalted in Power, Wise. 4:159 And there is none of the People of the Book but must believe in him before his death; and on the Day of Judgment He will be a witness against them. Based on the statements of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), Muslims believe that Prophet Jesus will return to earth at a time when Muslims will be in a dire need of a leader. He will not initiate a new religion but rather obey the Holy Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad and lead Muslims to victory over the disbelievers. We hope that this short essay will help our readers understand the origins of Christianity and Islam's position on Jesus. We encourage everyone to read the Holy Quran to obtain a better understanding of Jesus and Islam. The Holy Quran also gives a detailed account of the mission and lives of "Jewish" prophets like Abraham and Moses. Altogether, twenty-five prophets are mentioned by name in the Quran. References: 1. Manual of Dawah for Islamic Workers, The Islamic Circle of North America, 166-26 89th Avenue, Jamaica, NY 11432. (718)657-4090 2. The Message, monthly magazine by ICNA, December 1993 issue is devoted fully to the Christianity. =================================================================== ******************************************************************* =================================================================== 3. SANTA CLAUS, NOT OF CHRISTIAN ORIGIN ======================================= Today in America, Santa Claus is a mythical old man who brings gifts to children at Christmas time. Today's version of Santa originally developed from a real person, Saint Nicholas, who lived 1700 years ago. He was bishop of Myra, an ancient town of Lycia, now in Turkey. According to legend, he was only a boy when he became a bishop. He was extremely kind and often went out at night, taking presents to the needy. His generosity was not bound by any particular time of the year. He was much loved by his community for his kindness and selflessness. After his death on the 6th day of December, school boys all over Europe celebrated a feast day every year on the anniversary of his death. Children were so fond of Saint Nicholas and his habit of bringing gifts that the custom of celebrating his feast day on the 6th day of December was maintained for hundreds of years. In England, Saint Nicholas Day festivities were banned when Henry VIII founded the church of England. They were later resumed when Queen Victoria married German Prince Albert, but Saint Nicholas in his return was changed to Father Christmas and appeared on Christmas eve, the 24th day of December, not the originally celebrated date of December 6. The American tradition of santa Claus was taken from the altered English version. Santa Claus (a German translation of St. Nicholas) was modeled after a man of kindness, generosity and compassion. It was only in the last few hundred years that Santa Claus was associated with the Christian holiday of Christmas that celebrates the birthday of Prophet Jesus. <p><a href="http://www.califcity.com/christmas.html">SANTAS HOME NORTH POLE</a> <script src="http://www.google-analytics.com/urchin.js" type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript"> _uacct = "UA-2463756-8"; urchinTracker(); </script> </body> </html>