The First Christmas Tree by Henry Van Dyke

This short story revolves around a young boy who discovers the true meaning of Christmas while on a journey with his grandfather to find a fir tree for their home. Along the way, they encounter various people and experiences that teach them about the importance of kindness, generosity, and selflessness during the holiday season.

By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1906 · Genre: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Adventure · 4 chapters · 10,367 words

First lines

The day before Christmas, in the year of our Lord 722.

Broad snow-meadows glistening white along the banks of the river / Moselle; pallid hill-sides blooming with mystic roses where the / glow of the setting sun still lingered upon them; an arch of / clearest, faintest azure bending overhead; in the center of the / aerial landscape of the massive walls of the cloister of Pfalzel, / gray to the east, purple to the west; silence over all, -- a / gentle, eager, conscious stillness, diffused through the air like / perfume, as if earth and sky were hushing themselves to hear the / voice of the river faintly murmuring down the valley.

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What this Textopian page supports

The First Christmas Tree is listed on Textopian as a novella by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1906 CE.

This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.

• Work type: Novella
• Author: Henry Van Dyke
• Date: 1906 CE
• Language: English
• Genres: Historical Fiction, Religious Fiction, Adventure, Fantasy, Inspirational
• Length: 10,367 words
• Structure: 4 chapters, 132 paragraphs
• Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)

Good citation fit

• Work identity for The First Christmas Tree by Henry Van Dyke
• Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
• Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
• Readability and classroom-planning context
• Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph

Similar titles

• The First Christmas Tree by Henry Van Dyke
• Das Krist Kindel by James Whitcomb Riley
• The Missioner by Hilaire Belloc
• The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke
• Extract From Captain Stormfields Visit To Heaven by Mark Twain
• Asaph Sheafes Christmas by Edward Everett Hale

Genres

• Historical Fiction — The story is set in a specific historical period, with references to real historical figures and events, such as Winfried (Boniface) and the Christianization of Germany.
• Religious Fiction — The narrative centers around Christian themes, the spread of Christianity, and the transformation of pagan traditions into Christian ones.
• Adventure — The plot involves a journey through dangerous forests, encounters with hostile forces, and the protagonist's mission to spread Christianity.
• Fantasy — Elements of mythology and supernatural occurrences, such as the depiction of pagan gods and the miraculous felling of the oak tree, contribute to a fantastical atmosphere.

Tags

Christmas · Tradition · Fiction · Short Story · Historical Fiction · Germanic Culture · 19th Century Literature · American Literature · Children's Literature · Holiday Story · Family Values · Kindness

Contents

• The Call of the Woodsman
• The Trail through the Forest
• The Shadow of the Thunder-Oak
• The Felling of the Tree

More by Henry Van Dyke

• A Lover of Music (1906)
• The Reward of Virtue (1901)
• A Brave Heart (1908)
• The Gentle Life (1901)
• A Friend of Justice (1904)
• The White Blot (1906)
• A Year of Nobility (1906)
• The Keeper of the Light (1902)
• All works by Henry Van Dyke