La noche santa

by Selma Lagerlöf

One cold winter's night, a cruel and hard-hearted shepherd is amazed by the strange happenings. A man comes looking for wood for a fire to warm his wife and newborn baby, and the dogs don't bite him, the sheep don't run away, and the fire doesn't scorch him. Following the man back to his cold grotto, the shepherd discovers the true spirit of Christmas.

Genres: Short Stories, Christmas, Classics, Fiction, Sweden, Childrens, Fairy Tales

110 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1904

About the author

Selma Ottilia Lovisa Lagerlöf (1858-1940) was a Swedish author. In 1909 she became the first woman to ever receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, "in appreciation of the lofty idealism, vivid imagination and spiritual perception that characterize her writings". She later also became the first female member of the Swedish Academy.

Born in the forested countryside of Sweden she was told many of the classic Swedish fairytales, which she would later use as inspiration in her magic realist writings. Since she for some of her early years had problems with her legs (she was born with a faulty hip) she would also spend a lot of time reading books such as the Bible.

As a young woman she was a teacher in the southern parts of Sweden for ten years before her first novel Gösta Berling's Saga was published. As her writer career progressed she would keep up a correspondance with some of her former female collegues for almost her entire life.

Lagerlöf never married and was almost certainly a lesbian (she never officially stated that she was, but most later researchers believe this to be the case). For many years her constant companion was fellow writer Sophie Elkan, with whom she traveled to Italy and the Middle East. Her visit to Palestine and a colony of Christians there, would inspire her to write Jerusalem, her story of Swedish farmers converting into a evangelical Christian group and travelling to "The American Colony" in Jerusalem.

Lagerlöf was involved in both women issues as well as politics. She would among other things help the Jewish writer Nelly Sachs to come to Sweden and donated her Nobel medal to the Finnish war effort against the Soviet union.

Outside of Sweden she's perhaps most widely known for her children's book Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige (The Wonderful Adventures of Nils).

Reviews

[Hilary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an unusual Christmas story. After a little girl's Grandmother dies she feels sad and remembers how she used to tell her stories. We then listen to the memory of one of these stories, a version of the nativity. Although this story shows the little girls loss it also shows her happy memories. The illustrations of the angles are very nice. This is a beautiful story with some very lovely, soft illustrations.

[Raffa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Letteratura svedese 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪
Progetto di Ann Morgan.

Premio Nobel 1909.

Una lettura deliziosa che mi ha accompagnato nei giorni di Natale. Ho gustato ogni singola pagina di questi racconti, che hanno risvolti storici ed agiografici, il cui filo conduttore è la figura di Gesù.
Non solo Natale, non solo nascita di Gesù, anche morte, passione ed aldilà.

Consigliato nelle festività.

[Agnė · Rating 2 out of 5]

Listened as an audiobook. A cute short story, too religious for me though.

[Abigail · Rating 4 out of 5]

The little-girl narrator of this lovely Christmas tale from Sweden recalls how her grandmother, who died when she was five, used to tell her many stories. After the grandmother's death, which is depicted in both text and artwork, one of the few tales to remain whole and intact in her memory, was this story of Jesus' birth. Related by the grandmother, the story follows the travails of a man who goes in search of live coals to kindle a fire, with which he hopes to warm his wife and newborn child. He eventually comes upon miserly shepherd in the wilderness who, although he wants to deny the request, is so impressed by the fact that the man has not been hurt by his dogs or his spear, and has not in turn frightened his sheep, that he agrees. Curious as to what is going on with this mysterious stranger, who is not burned by the live coals, the shepherd follows him back to an isolated cave, where he sees the man with his wife and newborn child. Concerned for the babe, he gives a sheepskin to keep him warm, and in that one generous act, his eyes are opened, and he sees that the world around him is full of angels, singing the birth of this holy child...

Selma Lagerlöf, who in 1909 became the first woman to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, is perhaps best known today in the the English-speaking world for her children's novel, The Wonderful Adventures of Nils . The story of The Holy Night appears to be one of a number of legends she penned about Christ, and the season of Christmas-tide. Although there are really two stories here - that of the little girl and her grandmother, and that of the shepherd who learns to see - the narrative does not feel divided and there are insights to be gained from both strands. Translator Velam Swanston Howard has done a good job here - something I don't often say, when reviewing titles from Floris Books - and there were some lovely moments in the text. When the girls reflects, after her grandmother's death, that "I remember feeling that something was gone from our lives. The door to a beautiful enchanted world had been closed," one has a sensation of sympathy and fellow-feeling. The young may not always understand the meaning of loss, but they are able to feel it most keenly. When the grandmother asserts the truth of her tale, maintaining that "it is not revealed by the light of lamps or candles, or by the light of sun and moon, but what is needed is to have such eyes as can see God's glory," one feels that sense of revelation, of truths beyond the ordinary ones of the workaday world.

As should be apparent, I enjoyed the story here, finding it both powerful and poignant. I also enjoyed the illustrations by Ilon Wikland, which I found very appealing. I was struck by the scene in which the grandmother is shown in her casket, with mourners around her and two candles at her head. One so rarely sees such an overt depiction of death in children's books, and yet it is handled with a delicate touch, and feel appropriate. Recommended to anyone looking for more thought-provoking Christmas stories for the picture-book set.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wonder who began our own interest in reading and listening to stories.

In this simple tale a small child feels the loss of her Grandmother by the empty chair and that no- one else took up the mantle to share the richness and depth that only stories can bring. The door to another world was closed which no-one else could open after the death of her Grandmother.
Her most favourite and easily recalled into adulthood was about this special Holy Night.

A man is forced to wander from door to door seeking some kindling and live coals to make a fire for his wife and new born child.
A number of unusual events surround the man’s quest which seem to go against the laws of science and nature.
He chances on a grumpy old shepherd who wonders about this stranger especially when his dogs do not bark and his sheep do not stir.

It is a lovely story around the heart’s attitude to behold God’s work in the world at Christmas; when the shepherd is moved to compassion he is able to glimpse the glory of Heaven.

A wonderful short story to allow us to think and prepare for Christmas.

[Marcia Sofía Esperanza · Rating 2 out of 5]

Diferente y rápido de leer

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Those who have eyes to see understand the miracle of Christmas.

[Camilla Pruccoli 🎃☕️🪄 · Rating 2 out of 5]

Premesse altissime.
Mi ha annoiata parecchio.

[Roberta · Rating 3 out of 5]

È il terzo natale consecutivo che Iperborea pubblica un libro della Lagerlöf per natale, ma è anche quello che mi è piaciuto di meno. I primi due parlavano di folklore e tradizioni interessanti perché vagamente esotiche, per noi italiani, ma quest'ultimo volume è dedicato quasi solo a quelle piccole parabole che la gente si è inventata nel corso dei secoli per riempire quei 30 anni di silenzio tra la nascita e la morte di Gesù, oppure alcune di quelle storie su Gesù e san Pietro che guardano alla terra dal paradiso. Conclude il tutto il ritorno dalle crociate di un nobile fiorentino.
Fin troppo natalizio. Sarebbero 2 stelle e mezza.

[Nina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrator reminiscences her long deceased grandmother, and a very special Christmas story she used to tell her when she was a child. Accompanied by gorgeous illustrations. Lovely little book!

[WalderianWarden · Rating 2 out of 5]

För kristen för mig!

[Soobie has fog in her brain · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mi piace come scrive la Lagerlöf, anche quando si tratta di favole a sfondo religioso.

Una bambina si ricorda delle storie che le raccontava la nonna. Sono tutte storie a tema religioso, tramandate dalla cultura popolare e non accettate dalla Bibbia. C'è la storia della nutrice di Tiberio che riporta in Italia quella che potrebbe essere la Sindone. C'è un fiorentino che riporta in patria la fiamma del Santo Sepolcro. C'è San Pietro che vorrebbe salvare la madre, finita all'inferno dopo la morte. C'è il bambino che riesce a fare i miracoli...

Dai, carine!

Ammetto di star tergiversando in attesa che mi venga il coraggio di leggere Jerusalem e La saga di Gösta Berling...

[Federica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Un libro prezioso questo che raccoglie alcuni bellissimi racconti della scrittrice svedese Salma Lagerlof. Un libro che narra storie natalizie, come quella tutta personale che gli dà il titolo, nella quale l’autrice ricorda il Natale della propria infanzia nel quale ha compreso che ognuno di noi ha occhi capaci di vedere il Mistero di Dio. Ma un libro che va anche molto oltre, riprendendo e rivisitando Vangeli apocrifi e miti e raccontando quindi storie dei Magi, la strage degli Innocenti, la fuga in Egitto, fino ad arrivare alla Pasqua della Veronica e al fuoco sacro portato da Gerusalemme a Firenze, per dirci che nessun male, nessun peccato, nessuna lontananza può essere così lontana che lo sguardo di quel bambino nella mangiatoia, non possa purificare con la sua misericordia.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

First read : 3
Second read : 4

[Kevin Albrecht]

(Recommended by Marjann Falk.)

[Libri & · Rating 4 out of 5]

Puoi leggere la recensione su:
http://letteraturaecinema.blogspot.it...

[Cynthia Rodrigues · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet story about the Holiest of Nights and how a hard-hearted man is touched by the Christ Child.

[Barbara Mahoney · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely Swedish Christmas story.

[sophie.exe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ammetto che nella mia edizione non c'era il sottotitolo "Le Leggende di Gesù", e che, leggendo la quarta di copertina, mi ero immaginata tutt'altro.
Da agnostica, ho trovato a tratti un po' pesante tutta la narrazione sul Salvatore. Tuttavia, da antropologa, ho trovato affascinanti le storie.
Selma Lagerloff ha un modo effettivamente unico di narrare, come se qualcuno stesse raccontando quelle favole davanti a un camino acceso e volesse semplicemente suscitare meraviglia nei suoi ascoltatori.
Alcuni racconti sono al confine con delle storie fantasy, e se si considerano in questa maniera, diventa anche molto interessante leggere questa raccolta.
Penso leggerò altro della Lagerloff, perché è stata una figura estremamente importante nella letteratura, ma non consiglierei di partire proprio da questo.

[Lori Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

(I read the English version, The Holy Night: A Christmas Story by Selma Lagerlöf, text 1904, illustrations 1984, translation 1984).

I find the intro a bit odd for a children's story, but the tale itself is lovely... it'd be an especially good fit told aloud during Advent. It's an alternative telling of the traditional Christmas story, with an unnamed child born outdoors and a hard-hearted shepherd finding mercy in his heart to share a warm sheepskin, which then allows him to see singing angels ("tonight the Saviour was born who should redeem the world from its sins")

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a sweet story! Her grandmother reminded me of mine.

[Kerstin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly enchanting Christmas tale.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

A shortened story of the birth of Christ. It was sweet and I loved the beginning when we learned about the grandmother and her love of telling stories.

[Leonor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Historia bellísima, llena de significado especial para mi historia personal

[Francesca Mezzomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Storie create attraverso la lettura di vangeli apocrifi e leggende italiane e orientali. Molto suggestive

[Maria Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bellissimi racconti che intersecano la vita di Gesù e non solo la nascita. Mi è piaciuto molto e ho amato molto il capitolo introduttivo nel quale si parla della nonna della scrittrice.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little Swedish, children's, Christmas book. It tells the Christmas story in a whole new way and combines that with family traditions and the memories of a grandmother.

[Henrik P. Rhodin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Årlig tradition. Underbar berättelse.

[Sol Escudero · Rating 5 out of 5]

Esta fue mi infancia. Muy lindo.