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Christmas Every Day
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14 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1892
18 people are currently reading
292 people want to read
About the author
William Dean Howells
1,179 books100 followersWillam Dean Howells (1837-1920) was a novelist, short story writer, magazine editor, and mentor who wrote for various magazines, including the Atlantic Monthly and Harper's Magazine.
In January 1866 James Fields offered him the assistant editor role at the Atlantic Monthly. Howells accepted after successfully negotiating for a higher salary, but was frustrated by Fields's close supervision. Howells was made editor in 1871, remaining in the position until 1881.
In 1869 he first met Mark Twain, which began a longtime friendship. Even more important for the development of his literary style — his advocacy of Realism — was his relationship with the journalist Jonathan Baxter Harrison, who during the 1870s wrote a series of articles for the Atlantic Monthly on the lives of ordinary Americans.
He wrote his first novel, Their Wedding Journey, in 1872, but his literary reputation took off with the realist novel A Modern Instance, published in 1882, which described the decay of a marriage. His 1885 novel The Rise of Silas Lapham is perhaps his best known, describing the rise and fall of an American entrepreneur of the paint business. His social views were also strongly represented in the novels Annie Kilburn (1888), A Hazard of New Fortunes (1890), and An Imperative Duty (1892). He was particularly outraged by the trials resulting from the Haymarket Riot.
His poems were collected during 1873 and 1886, and a volume under the title Stops of Various Quills was published during 1895. He was the initiator of the school of American realists who derived, through the Russians, from Balzac and had little sympathy with any other type of fiction, although he frequently encouraged new writers in whom he discovered new ideas.
Howells also wrote plays, criticism, and essays about contemporary literary figures such as Henrik Ibsen, Émile Zola, Giovanni Verga, Benito Pérez Galdós, and, especially, Leo Tolstoy, which helped establish their reputations in the United States. He also wrote critically in support of American writers Hamlin Garland, Stephen Crane, Emily Dickinson, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Sarah Orne Jewett, Charles W. Chesnutt, Abraham Cahan, Madison Cawein,and Frank Norris. It is perhaps in this role that he had his greatest influence. In his "Editor's Study" column at the Atlantic Monthly and, later, at Harper's, he formulated and disseminated his theories of "realism" in literature.
In 1904 he was one of the first seven people chosen for membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters, of which he became president.
Howells died in Manhattan on May 11, 1920. He was buried in Cambridge Cemetery in Massachusetts.
Noting the "documentary" and truthful value of Howells' work, Henry James wrote: "Stroke by stroke and book by book your work was to become, for this exquisite notation of our whole democratic light and shade and give and take, in the highest degree documentary."
In January 1866 James Fields offered him the assistant editor role at the Atlantic Monthly. Howells accepted after successfully negotiating for a higher salary, but was frustrated by Fields's close supervision. Howells was made editor in 1871, remaining in the position until 1881.
In 1869 he first met Mark Twain, which began a longtime friendship. Even more important for the development of his literary style — his advocacy of Realism — was his relationship with the journalist Jonathan Baxter Harrison, who during the 1870s wrote a series of articles for the Atlantic Monthly on the lives of ordinary Americans.
He wrote his first novel, Their Wedding Journey, in 1872, but his literary reputation took off with the realist novel A Modern Instance, published in 1882, which described the decay of a marriage. His 1885 novel The Rise of Silas Lapham is perhaps his best known, describing the rise and fall of an American entrepreneur of the paint business. His social views were also strongly represented in the novels Annie Kilburn (1888), A Hazard of New Fortunes (1890), and An Imperative Duty (1892). He was particularly outraged by the trials resulting from the Haymarket Riot.
His poems were collected during 1873 and 1886, and a volume under the title Stops of Various Quills was published during 1895. He was the initiator of the school of American realists who derived, through the Russians, from Balzac and had little sympathy with any other type of fiction, although he frequently encouraged new writers in whom he discovered new ideas.
Howells also wrote plays, criticism, and essays about contemporary literary figures such as Henrik Ibsen, Émile Zola, Giovanni Verga, Benito Pérez Galdós, and, especially, Leo Tolstoy, which helped establish their reputations in the United States. He also wrote critically in support of American writers Hamlin Garland, Stephen Crane, Emily Dickinson, Mary E. Wilkins Freeman, Paul Laurence Dunbar, Sarah Orne Jewett, Charles W. Chesnutt, Abraham Cahan, Madison Cawein,and Frank Norris. It is perhaps in this role that he had his greatest influence. In his "Editor's Study" column at the Atlantic Monthly and, later, at Harper's, he formulated and disseminated his theories of "realism" in literature.
In 1904 he was one of the first seven people chosen for membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters, of which he became president.
Howells died in Manhattan on May 11, 1920. He was buried in Cambridge Cemetery in Massachusetts.
Noting the "documentary" and truthful value of Howells' work, Henry James wrote: "Stroke by stroke and book by book your work was to become, for this exquisite notation of our whole democratic light and shade and give and take, in the highest degree documentary."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
November 26, 2019
I really enjoyed this small "book"! It was like reading two stories in one. Hard to believe that the book was first published in 1892 and it's nice that even though that was a long, long time ago, the true meaning of Christmas still captures the reader! Five merry ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️'s 🎄‼️
December 19, 2021
Cleverly written short story about why it isn’t always good to get what you wish for. The little girl keeps Papa on his toes!
August 14, 2018
Well it's interesting; I'll say that much for it. But it's also cynical and sad. A Christmas story about a little girl who can visit a magical wish-granting Christmas fairy still misses the wonder that such a tale might evoke, and it turns into an obvious moral lesson. I thought it was pretty depressing.
That said, the framing device—a harried father telling the story to his daughter (who keeps poking him)—really makes it work. The father and daughter are interesting, and these parts are really funny and amusing. She keeps interrupting, too! I suppose the tale within the tale is meant to parody the moral lessons of the time, especially considering how stressed-out the storyteller probably is. But I don't think this will be one of my holiday favorites, either.
That said, the framing device—a harried father telling the story to his daughter (who keeps poking him)—really makes it work. The father and daughter are interesting, and these parts are really funny and amusing. She keeps interrupting, too! I suppose the tale within the tale is meant to parody the moral lessons of the time, especially considering how stressed-out the storyteller probably is. But I don't think this will be one of my holiday favorites, either.
December 19, 2018
This is a charming story. Enjoyable for any age.
November 5, 2023
'Take it, you horrid old thing'
December 29, 2024
A charming tale of a girl and how gratitude and sharing plays out.
Christmas comes just once a year.
Things would be different if Christmas came much more often.
Many more challenges and difficulties would arise.
The story telling is well done.
Christmas comes just once a year.
Things would be different if Christmas came much more often.
Many more challenges and difficulties would arise.
The story telling is well done.
August 25, 2019
I have arranged my takeaway thoughts into a haiku:
"If only all kids
Could learn how sugar goes sour
Through similar means."
"If only all kids
Could learn how sugar goes sour
Through similar means."
December 31, 2021
A Father gives a great explanation to his young daughter as to why Christmas only comes once a year!
December 9, 2014
“The little girl came into her papa's study, as she always did Saturday morning before breakfast, and asked for a story. He tried to beg off that morning, for he was very busy, but she would not let him. So he began” It is the perfect way to start any story a father reading to his little girl. I am not a father but it is my profound wish that I may one day be one and I have often imaged reading books out loud at bedtime or by the fire at Christmas. This is what I thought about while reading this story how wonderfull it would be and how beautiful it must feel to be that father reading a story to his little girl who all the while was stropping and pounding for him to “tell it right”.
William Dean Howells's 1892 short story, "Christmas Every Day" about a young American girl, whose wish that Christmas would come daily is granted for an entire year. It is told as a story within a story a literary device that I have said many times I enjoy. The narration between the story her father was telling to the way she protested as to how he told it was something that I just adored about this short tale. The moral of the tale is great for kids and adults alike that too much of a good thing can never be good. That what makes Christmas special is that it comes but once a year and that everything should have its time and place. This message should be picked up a lot more, with the Christmas season being hijacked by shops and media it feels to me as if it comes earlier and earlier each year. The advent calendars where in the shops at the end of October this year! If it continues this way we soon will have Christmas every day and if you read this book you will discover that things didn’t turn out for the best! A beautiful little tale I encourage you all to pick up.
William Dean Howells's 1892 short story, "Christmas Every Day" about a young American girl, whose wish that Christmas would come daily is granted for an entire year. It is told as a story within a story a literary device that I have said many times I enjoy. The narration between the story her father was telling to the way she protested as to how he told it was something that I just adored about this short tale. The moral of the tale is great for kids and adults alike that too much of a good thing can never be good. That what makes Christmas special is that it comes but once a year and that everything should have its time and place. This message should be picked up a lot more, with the Christmas season being hijacked by shops and media it feels to me as if it comes earlier and earlier each year. The advent calendars where in the shops at the end of October this year! If it continues this way we soon will have Christmas every day and if you read this book you will discover that things didn’t turn out for the best! A beautiful little tale I encourage you all to pick up.
June 1, 2011
~GREEDY?!~
Such a sweet short story about a girl and her father, telling a little "horror" fairy tale! Little girls and people in general are like "pigs" and want only good stuff all the time, lol. But we can know light only thanks to the shadow and even the dark...
Victoria Evangelina
March 4, 2015
A sweet short story about a little girl who begs her father to tell her a Christmas story. He tells her a story of a little girl who asks the Christmas Fairy for Christmas every day. He uses the story to teach her a moral lesson about greed.
This is a story published in the early 1900s and forgotten. It was published once again after Richard Paul Evans used it in his novel The Christmas Box.
This is a story published in the early 1900s and forgotten. It was published once again after Richard Paul Evans used it in his novel The Christmas Box.
December 16, 2018
This was interesting reading as it was part of the story of Richard Paul Evans Christmas Box.
Apparently that is the story Richard is reading to his daughter in Christmas Box. It was published in 1908 and hadn't been since. The author Howells wrote the story as a gift to his daughter way back and could have inspired Richard when writing the Christmas Box.
Apparently that is the story Richard is reading to his daughter in Christmas Box. It was published in 1908 and hadn't been since. The author Howells wrote the story as a gift to his daughter way back and could have inspired Richard when writing the Christmas Box.
November 22, 2020
This is a nice example of “be careful what you wish for because it might come true.” It’s a cautionary tale a father tells his young daughter. First published in 1908, this story was featured in Richard Paul Evans’ The Christmas Box and has been published again with a forward by him. It’s an interesting tale, but somehow it lacks that warm fuzzy feeling of modern Christmas stories.
December 31, 2008
A fun quick read. I think I was expecting more from it but it was cute, especially to see the funny interaction between father and daughter. A sweet message about the relationships you can have with your children.
December 8, 2014
Read by Richard Paul Evans...cool :-)
To explain in easy terms it is a story like Groundhog Day when Christmas is every day and you learn how precious the season is and to treasure it BECAUSE God loves us so much He sent His Son to save us.
To explain in easy terms it is a story like Groundhog Day when Christmas is every day and you learn how precious the season is and to treasure it BECAUSE God loves us so much He sent His Son to save us.
December 24, 2016
A very short story but a great Christmas story to tell the kids. I had gotten this book for Christmas when I was a kid and my mom read it to me and I thought it was a nice Christmas tale to read on Christmas Eve.
If you have kids or nieces or nephews this a perfect story to tell them.
If you have kids or nieces or nephews this a perfect story to tell them.
January 3, 2018
The first two sections are on The Third Day of Craftlit. I went to Librivox and got the rest of the book to listen too. The train story was really delightful until the end. I didn't care for the end or the moral. Pony engine in deed.
December 4, 2019
My first Christmas story of the year! I recall that I enjoyed this story as a small child, but reading it now it’s okay. I think that there are more pleasant Christmas stories. I do like the moral of the story which seems to be gratitude.
December 12, 2010
One of our favorite Christmas stories!
January 10, 2013
This book has a good moral lesson to it. It was the book that the father read to his daughter in the book "The Christmas Box".
August 24, 2013
quick read, great to read to children.
December 26, 2013
This book was meeeehhhh. I guess a good lesson, but I just didn't like the illustrations. They were kind of ugly.
Whatever.
Whatever.
December 29, 2013
Short story with a cute message.
December 14, 2017
A short story about a girl whose father tells her a story daily. She tells him she wants Christmas everyday. What happens when she gets her wish.
December 14, 2017
3.5 stars (liked it)
A cute short story about a father telling his daughter the tale of a girl who had made a wish that it be Christmas every day.
A cute short story about a father telling his daughter the tale of a girl who had made a wish that it be Christmas every day.
October 30, 2019
A perfect, short Christmas story to tell those little ones who wish Christmas happened more than once a year.
January 10, 2022
This short stories are really nice and sweet. You are carried in a nice fireplace, with a father and two little, curious, passionated children. I think it's a perfect book for Christmas time (even if I hoped to find more winter-period related plots). Anyway one of the stories is perfect for Halloween time.
Knowing about the friendship between Howells and Twain I was expecting a funnier book, but I've read it in Italian (my mother language), so maybe something got lost in the translating process! 4/5!
Knowing about the friendship between Howells and Twain I was expecting a funnier book, but I've read it in Italian (my mother language), so maybe something got lost in the translating process! 4/5!
December 12, 2025
I just watched Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmas last weekend, and this short story was one of it’s inspirations. I am shocked that the Disney version is much better!!
February 26, 2021
I heard about this because it was mentioned in Richard Paul Evans book The Christmas Box.
I was curious what children’s books were like 130 years ago. It was very old fashioned, published in 1892. I wouldn’t read it to children today, but I liked the interaction between the father and daughter. He would make up a story and she would interrupt his telling.
There are five stories: (Spoiler warning)
The first story: Christmas Every Day - was the best. A little girl’s wish comes true and Christmas happens every day for a year, but she realizes it’s a bad thing.
Second: Turkeys Turning the Tables - was a ghost story about turkeys trapping a little girl and telling her they were going to eat her for thanksgiving instead. Would you really read that to a child?
Third: The Pony Engine and the Pacific Express - This one is sad. Papa locomotive drove off the side of the bridge and drowned, mama locomotive injured, little pony engine is left kind of an orphan. He drives too fast and ends up in the ocean, his mom gets brain fever and never recovers use of her mind. Leaves the daughter he's telling the story to in tears.
Fourth: The Pumpkin-Glory - an unusually shaped pumpkin is turned into a jack-o-lantern and admired by many then it falls and is eaten by a pig.
Last: ButterflyFlutterby and FlutterbyButterfly - about a prince named ButterflyFlutterby and princess FlutterbyButterfly, orphan twins, fairy godmother cares for them and sends soldiers out to clean and dust the kingdom. It sounds kind of violent because if anyone cleans up the Royal messes they are thrown from a tower, but it turns out to be 3 feet tall with a trampoline under it.
I was curious what children’s books were like 130 years ago. It was very old fashioned, published in 1892. I wouldn’t read it to children today, but I liked the interaction between the father and daughter. He would make up a story and she would interrupt his telling.
There are five stories: (Spoiler warning)
The first story: Christmas Every Day - was the best. A little girl’s wish comes true and Christmas happens every day for a year, but she realizes it’s a bad thing.
Second: Turkeys Turning the Tables - was a ghost story about turkeys trapping a little girl and telling her they were going to eat her for thanksgiving instead. Would you really read that to a child?
Third: The Pony Engine and the Pacific Express - This one is sad. Papa locomotive drove off the side of the bridge and drowned, mama locomotive injured, little pony engine is left kind of an orphan. He drives too fast and ends up in the ocean, his mom gets brain fever and never recovers use of her mind. Leaves the daughter he's telling the story to in tears.
Fourth: The Pumpkin-Glory - an unusually shaped pumpkin is turned into a jack-o-lantern and admired by many then it falls and is eaten by a pig.
Last: ButterflyFlutterby and FlutterbyButterfly - about a prince named ButterflyFlutterby and princess FlutterbyButterfly, orphan twins, fairy godmother cares for them and sends soldiers out to clean and dust the kingdom. It sounds kind of violent because if anyone cleans up the Royal messes they are thrown from a tower, but it turns out to be 3 feet tall with a trampoline under it.
June 7, 2019
Forward by Richard Paul Evans, author of The Christmas Box (1993), in which a character named Richard reads Christmas Every Day to his daughter. Evans says, "Christmas Every Day is not as much about Christmas as it is about a father's love for his daughter." Howells's daughter Winifred died at age 25 (1889), and Christmas Every Day was written three years later (1892).
Odd conception of time travel. The little girl wants it to be Christmas every day, and the fairy grants the wish, but each new Christmas day does not erase the previous one; more and more presents pile up, and people begin to figure out that the little girl has wished this circumstance for an entire year.
At the end of the story, the father calls his story "a moral tale."
Odd conception of time travel. The little girl wants it to be Christmas every day, and the fairy grants the wish, but each new Christmas day does not erase the previous one; more and more presents pile up, and people begin to figure out that the little girl has wished this circumstance for an entire year.
At the end of the story, the father calls his story "a moral tale."
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews