With Christmas being the biggest and most celebrated holiday, there are many, many variations of the Christmas classics. Though there are a bunch, it’s almost the same thing, just with a slight twist to keep it different from the source materials. To spruce up the holiday tales, what if some of the classics were set in modern times or a different setting? As a book or a movie adaptation, what could be done to spice up the Christmas stories we love? We’ll be taking a look at Christmas classics that deserve an upgrade in storytelling, and give a shoutout to media that have already done so that might interest you.
A Christmas Carol and Other Christmas Writings by Charles Dickens
We all know the story of Scrooge and his change of heart after learning to embrace the Christmas spirit. A Christmas Carol is a classic for a reason, and any rendition we get is welcomed. But most of the time any new twists on this tale — movie or book — are always set during the nineteenth century. The latest versions like Scrooge: A Christmas Carol and The Nightmare Curse: A Christmas Carol Retelling by Kayla McGrath keep it in its natural setting. But what would this story look like in today’s time?
We have a taste of what that could look like with Spirited starring Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds, but wouldn’t it be interesting if we got a modern story without the musical, but kept the magic? Or take out the magic and turn the whole story into the psychological genre like Dickens’ other Christmas work, The Haunted Man. If Winnie the Pooh can be turned into a horror, then A Christmas Carol can.
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King by E.T.A. Hoffman
The Nutcracker is a beloved ballet of Marie embarking on an adventure with the cursed Nutcracker. My earliest introduction to the ballet’s story is from Barbie in the Nutcracker. Barbie tells the story to Kelly, which then shifts the story to the Nutcracker’s 1800’s period. With a deep dive into the original story — which is more heavy in tone and events — it would be an epic fantasy. Did you know that compared to the ballet and other versions, people die? If you want another take on the ballet, I recommend Clara’s Soldier: A Retelling of the Nutcracker by Brittany Fichter, taking place during WWII.
The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry
O. Henry — real name William Sydney Porter — is one of the greatest short story writers of all time. But if you haven’t heard of him, let The Gift of the Magi be your first introduction. A story of a couple struggling to make ends meet but wishing to gift each other something for Christmas, could be turned into a silent short film like Paperman. Or like Jingle All the Way, make it a comedy about how a married couple each goes on separate hijinks getting that impossible present at the last minute, or else their marriage falls apart. For more childlike fun, watch Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas where Mickey and Minnie give up something precious of theirs to afford Christmas presents.
The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson
If you watched Disney’s The Little Mermaid’s special bonus features, you know that Disney made a short film called The Little Match Girl. With no dialogue but a magnificent score by Alexander Borodin, the silent, tragic tale of the little match girl emphasizes how not everyone gets to celebrate the holidays. How this is a children’s book with that sad ending I don’t know, but there are possibilities to update it for modern audiences. A book, The Little Match Girl Strikes Back by Emma Carroll brings a new spirited little match girl if she had the power to change her impoverished life with her matches. As a movie, it could be a commentary on the children’s poverty that Anderson meant for his story to be and how children will do anything to gain money to afford food.
Papa Panov’s Special Christmas by Leo Tolstoy
With Christmas’ main theme of giving and spreading joy to everyone, this story emulates that message with the birth of Jesus Christ. Written by Leo Tolstoy, the author brings a light-hearted, Christmas feel-good story to read before bed. Telling the story of an elderly man who dreamt that Jesus would visit him, the man eagerly awaits his arrival. Only finding the less fortunate passing through his abode, it’s the old man’s kindness and generosity that makes this story sweetly encouraging. It’d be nice if this were made into a Christmas special like How the Grinch Stole Christmas! or A Charlie Brown Christmas. The peace-like story would be a nice addition to the Christmas classics.
The Elves and the Shoe Maker by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm
Believe it or not, The Elves and the Shoe Maker is a Christmas story written by the Grimms brothers. Taking place right before Christmas time, a couple of elves help a poor shoemaker by sneaking into the shoemaker’s workshop and creating well-made shoes. Finding the shoes the next day, the shoemaker makes a profit, helping him sustain himself and his wife. If this were turned into a short film for kids to watch, it would be a great Christmas addition to Santa’s elves. For now, the only live appearance of these shoe elves is from Elf, when Papa Elf explains the three roles an elf can have, a shoemaker being one of them.
Even if we didn’t get modern updates to these classic Christmas stories, there’s still something to learn and appreciate from them. Classics are classics for a reason, but it would be interesting to see more retellings like The Little Match Girl Strikes Back. Maybe the little girl will get a better ending than in the original.
More Christmas tales can be found in Picture Books Perfect For The Holiday Season!
Find more Christmas-themed books at Young Reader’s and Children’s Holiday Recs!
