Top 10 Free Classic Christmas Stories

December 15, 2023
Written by:
Naomi White

In many families, Christmas traditions consist of gathering around the tree and reading the old classic Christmas stories. Christmas Eve is the perfect time to do this. Whether you like to read stories together for several nights in December or just one, we’re certain you’ll enjoy reading these classic Christmas stories as a family!

The Gift of the Magi – by O. Henry

This touching story is about a poor couple who each sacrifices something for the other. The story has an interesting twist at the end and is definitely one you’ll want to read each Christmas! Read it here.

A Christmas Carol – by Charles Dickens

This all-time Christmas classic tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge who was too stingy to spend much money on gifts – until he receives visits from members of the other world that convince him to be thankful for what he has and to be willing to share. Read it here.

The Three Kings – by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Christmas bedtime stories to read online

This story takes the Biblical account of Jesus’s birth and puts it into poetic form. It tells the story of three kings who, guided by a star, came upon a mother and baby (who lay in a manger) and the gifts they brought to the baby. Read the whole story here.

The Little Match Girl – by Hans Christian Andersen

This sweet, short story tells the tale of a young girl who was left out in the cold and the delirious visions she has every time she burns a match. Read it here.

The Legend of the Christmas Tree – by Lucy Wheelock

In this heartwarming story, a boy is taken in at his worst point. The family who takes him in doesn’t hesitate to do so and it pays off completely, for he turns out to be the Christ Child. Your family will certainly enjoy this retelling of a Biblical account (based on Matthew 23:35). Read it here.

A Christmas Dream, and How It Came to be True – by Louisa May Alcott

This story is a spin-off of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol and tells the story from a young child’s point of view. Read it here.

Christmas at Red Butte – by Lucy Maud Montgomery

This is a sweet story with an even sweeter ending. Get to know the characters and learn the true meaning of Christmas in this short story. Read it here.

A Christmas Tree – by Charles Dickens classic Christmas stories to read aloud

In this classic story, an elderly man reflects on what Christmas was like for him as he was growing up. He also gives us insight into what Christmas gifts were like in the 19th century and what stories children of that time would’ve heard. Read it here.

The Elves and the Shoemaker – by The Brothers Grimm

In this tale, a shoemaker and his wife are down to their last piece of leather. As luck would have it, a few elves change fate for them and give them the best holiday season (and life) ever. Read it here.

Twas the Night Before Christmas – by Clement Clarke Moore

No list of classic Christmas stories would be complete without this one! It makes for a great read on Christmas Eve especially. Enjoy it here.

 

Naomi White

Naomi White graduated with her B.S. in Christian Elementary Education and went on to earn her Early Childhood Education certification. She has taught preschool and elementary school in both Christian and public schools. She loves to read and write, is a pastor’s wife and stay-at-home mom, and is eagerly awaiting the day her son is old enough for them to start their own homeschool journey. Originally a Georgia girl, Naomi currently lives in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina with her family.