Chicken Soup for the Soul: Christmas in Canada: 101 Stories about the Joy and Wonder of the Holidays

by Amy Newmark, Janet Matthews

It’s Christmas in Canada! Get in the spirit with these 101 stories about the joy and wonder of the holidays.

The Christmas season is a magical time of year. This collection of entertaining stories will touch your heart and spread holiday cheer with its tales of family, fun, and traditions all across Canada.

From winter storms to farmers’ parades, from carolling to cookie baking, from family gatherings to welcoming new immigrants, you’ll delight in these heartwarming tales of family, goodwill, and giving, from one coast to the other.

Remember, all our stories are “Santa safe” so they can be enjoyed by the whole family. And we don’t forget Hanukkah either. There’s something for every Canadian in these pages.

Genres: Christmas, Nonfiction

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 14, 2014

About the author

Amy Newmark is the bestselling author, editor-in-chief, and publisher of the Chicken Soup for the Soul book series. Since 2008, she has published 191 new Chicken Soup for the Soul titles, most of them national bestsellers in the U.S. and Canada, more than doubling the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul titles in print today.

Amy is credited with revitalizing the Chicken Soup for the Soul brand, which has been a publishing industry phenomenon since the first book came out in 1993. By compiling inspirational and aspirational true stories curated from ordinary people who have had extraordinary experiences, Amy has kept the thirty-year-old Chicken Soup for the Soul brand fresh and relevant.

Follow Amy on Twitter @amynewmark. Listen to her free podcast, The Chicken Soup for the Soul Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Google Play, the Podcasts app on iPhone, or by using your favorite podcast app on other devices.

Reviews

[Arlene Starr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chicken Soup for the Soul, Christmas in Canada by Amy Newmark and Janet Matthews
This book comprises 101 stories about the joy and wonder of the holidays, with over 93 people contributing besides Newmark and Matthews. These stories are entertaining and approximately 2 to 4 pages long. They tell of family, fun and traditions, struggles, joys, inspiration and the magic and wonder of the holidays, especially Christmas. The book is divided into ten categories, such as, "Spirit of Christmas," "Holiday Memories," "The Santa Files," "Angels in Our Midst," "The Spirit of Giving," and more. One of my favorites is "On Guard," under the "Santa Files." I came away with several good ideas to add to our family traditions for Christmas and with a good laugh from stories like "On Guard," and a heart full of awe and appreciation for the love and struggles relived by the contributors in their writings. The quote under each one of the stories is written by well-known poets as well as others not so well known, and they are very colorful and cleverly written.

[Jodie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Starting this one for book group

[Ira Therebel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet read in my December Christmas book marathon. As most are familiar with Chicken soup for the soul books I don't have to tell much, basically this is a selection of special memories that Canadian contributors had about Christmas in their lives.

There are a couple of fun stories like the ones about a guy celebrating a Canadian Christmas in Turkey and the dog who ate a very special part of Christmas was also laughing a lot at the little boy who sat at the fire place to fight off Santa if he came to pick up the presents because he wasn't such a good boy that year, lol! .

For the most part, not surprising considering the topic and the name of the series, it is about their memories of some special kindness and miracles. It may seem repetitive since many are about a family in poverty who received a kind gift of money, tree, food, toys etc. by some unknown giver but they are all unique memories and give us a good feeling about humans not always being d*cks. Some of the stories were really touching so they made me cry (ugh those chicken soup books!) Like the one about a little girl who for many couldn't get any toys for Christmas because her parents had no money and then she was surprised by a doll from the Santa after writing a letter to him in school. The one about a girl giving her teacher a half empty hand cream because she loved her so much and couldn't afford anything else. And also the one where even on his deathbed a father tells his now adult daughter that those sleigh marks who suddenly disappear on the snow were from Santa when she asks how he made them and thus keeping the Christmas magic

So the book is definitely a great Christmas read. It gets us the feeling of magic and Christmas spirit.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful and heart warming, the ideal read for 2020. Great way to get into the spirit of the season, however you celebrate Christmas or Hanukkah or the joy of December.
I've read a few Chicken Soup books, mostly cat oriented. They made me smile, laugh and cry. This one especially had me in tears; we've recently lost a family member and the last third of the book had me reach for a number of tissues, one superb story after another, all by regular folks across our country from east to west and cities in between all sharing their tales of kids at the holidays, helping out families in need, suffering their own family loss but putting on a brave face Christmas morn, helping strangers lost in snowbanks, welcoming refugees into homes during the 2013 ice storm. So many terrific and heart-warming stories that really put this year into perspective.
Each section and story begins with a quote. I loved many but want to share this one, "Having a place to to--is a home. Having someone to love--is a family. Having both--is a blessing." Donna Hedges

[Agnes Mcintosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the inspirational.short stories that touch my soul!

[Kathleen Friesen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book, especially since one of my stories, A Christmas Rescue, is included! The short stories are perfect for a quick pick-me-up. They range from fun family memories to mysterious wonders - something for everyone.

[Makeupanid · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love these books, I had to wait 8 weeks on hold for it from the Library, but it was worth it. I never would have learned about the Farmers Parade of Lights in Rockwood otherwise.
Also the turkey in Turkey story was hilarious!

[Linda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Christmasy. A tad too sappy but it does help one remember to appreciate the season. I will re-read some of the stories next year.

[Susan B · Rating 3 out of 5]

Heartwarming stories from Canada at Christmas!

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several of these books - love them all. This one was especially wonderful because the stories were from people from Canada.

Great short stories.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading these short tales of true Christmas memories. Touching stories that opened my heart to the Canadian Christmas spirit. This quote, taken from one of the 101 stories, says it all: "...never forget that it's the small things given with pure love that matter at Christmas." Yes Christmas and always.... and I felt like these personal stories were given with pure love to the reader.