Stories for Christmas

Stories for Christmas / Alison Uttley; chosen by Kathleen Lines
London: Faber & Faber, c1977.
128 p.

This is a collection of twelve stories set at Christmas, excerpted from a variety of Uttley's children's books. Perfect for reading over the 12 days of Christmas.

Uttley's books are charming, very, very English, and full of whimsy and things such as talking animals and animated inanimate objects. 

In this collection, her focus on the high point of the calendar being the Christmas season, mostly as a religious festival, is clear. As the introduction says, "Christmas was the climax of winter for the country people during Alison Uttley's childhood. Ribbon and ornaments were carefully kept from year to year, holly and ivy and other greenery were gatheried in the woods for decoration; few presents were bought, for most were handmade, and the traditional Christmas food was cooked or made at home. It is natrual then that many of Alison Uttley's stories should be about the festival and the preparations for it. Many of them begin on Christmas Eve, 'that night of mystery when strange things can happen'."

Some of the stories are about gift giving and joyous gatherings; some are quiet and magical; some are focused on the miraculous nature of the Christmas story, while others feature the enchantment of a fairy tale season with fairies and such appearing. There is some humour, some sentiment, and a lot of seasonal enjoyment to be had. 

Since the stories are gathered from a variety of books, the tone and interest varies. I liked the more adult focused ones, while younger readers might love Sam Pig and his piggy siblings best. However, I still think that my favourite Christmas content from Alison Uttley comes from her book A Country Child, which I've shared before. 

But to open the heart to miracles and the joy of the season, this collection was a charming and delightful choice. I enjoyed its quiet celebratory tone and all the different takes on Christmas.