Can you be nostalgic for a time you never lived in? I feel like you can, especially when you grow up devouring content that paints such a clear picture of an era that predates you.
The Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder is a collection of stories that do just that. Each book is like a season of a TV series. The characters age gradually over the course of a year or more, and that means the reader gets to spend every season with them. This inevitably includes Christmas.
Like any family, the Ingalls family celebrated a mixed bag of Christmases. And as their lives changed, so did the celebrations. The Christmas chapters of the Little House series stand out in every book because of how reflective they were of the year that preceded them and how much they foreshadowed the year ahead.
Below I break down the Christmas chapters of the main books of the Little House series and their importance to the series as a whole. I also share the strengths of each story and what readers can take away from each Christmas celebrated with the Ingalls family.
Little House in the Big Woods
The first book in the series is very aware that its audience is from another time. Wilder was already getting up there in age when she first began to write these books, and the purpose of them was to document a bygone era from two generations back. Now, the stories are nearly 100 years old, and the time they are set in is even older. Because of this, Wilder take her time in Big Woods explaining what life was like in the Midwest in the 1800s.
The Ingalls family primarily lived off the land and only went to town occasionally for certain necessities. Wilder aged herself up to six years old in this first story, and she seems to be writing for an age group that isn’t much older. So, it was important to really spell out everything that was going on.
The first Christmas that readers spend with the Ingalls family starts out with preparations. Laura watches her Pa build a wooden shelf for Ma. Ma shows her and Mary how to make molasses candy by cooling hot molasses on fresh snow. And there is a ton of baking and cleaning involved in the preparations, which sounds boring but is interesting to hear from a pioneer’s perspective.
The decorations are relegated to some old stockings that are hung in the house, and whatever presents that Laura and her sisters, Mary and Carrie, can anticipate will only be able to fit inside those stockings. There is no tree, no lights, or electricity for that matter. Santa Claus is still part of the festivities, though, and he will be bringing the presents.
Christmas day
Like many families, one of Laura’s aunts, uncles, and her cousins come to stay for the holiday. They arrive in a horse-drawn sleigh complete with bells and enough fur blankets to bury under from the cold. To this day, we still paint pictures and listen to songs depicting the same, even though it’s likely that our relatives have never arrived at our homes by this mode of transportation. It’s always stuck in my mind how the family was given hot potatoes to stick in their pockets, both as a snack and as a primitive version of Hot Hands packets for the ride home.
The cover of this book depicts Christmas morning in which Laura receives a new ragdoll in her stocking. She names her Charlotte, and Charlotte makes appearances throughout a large part of the series. So, this Christmas is very important in the introduction of Charlotte, Laura’s emotional support doll who is a constant reminder of her roots in the big woods.
The great thing about this first Christmas is that there is no real conflict. It merely presents a snapshot of an early Christmas in the author’s life, and it sets the standard for other Christmases to come. I love how well everything works out for everyone, and I love how carefree and magical it is for the kids. It’s how I wish Christmas still felt.
Little House on the Prairie
In book 2 of the series, the Ingalls family has made it to the prairies of Kansas. It’s not the winter wonderland of the big woods of Wisconsin. Instead, it’s windy and rainy. A big storm just before Christmas makes the creek nearby rise dangerously high, and their only company, their neighbor, Mr. Edwards, does not have a way to safely cross over in order to help eat the Christmas turkey that Pa has caught for their dinner.
The girls are also worried because the rising creek also means that Santa Claus cannot pass through. Their Santa doesn’t fly. His sleigh is pulled on the ground.
This is the first Christmas, and one of many, to come with worry for the Ingalls family. In retrospect the stakes are low, but it still makes you feel sad for the girls who are banking on a visit from Santa in order for it to feel like Christmas.
Instead, it feels gloomy and hopeless until there’s a knock on the door on Christmas Eve, and Mr. Edwards comes in bearing gifts from Santa himself. Apparently, Edwards had braved the river, carrying his haul on top of his head to keep it dry. He nearly freezes to death, but it’s easy to see that it’s worth it judging by the girls’ reactions.
This Christmas is clearly memorable for the author because it comes up again later in the series. I recall that I still believed in Santa Claus when I first read this book, and while I wasn’t sure if I believed that Santa had brought the presents instead of Mr. Edwards, I remember feeling like the stakes were high as a visit from Santa could make or break the holiday for kids.
My mom, who was a fan of the TV series, was shocked when, while reading the book, I let her know that I had come to the part where Mr. Edwards arrives with the presents. “That really happened?” she asked. I’ve never seen that episode of the show to know how it was depicted, but clearly, it’s a moment that sticks in both versions of the story.
As an adult, you realize what a selfless act Edwards made for children who were essentially strangers to him. He could have saved those gifts for another time when it was safer to make it across the river, but he knew that the fate of the girls’ Christmas rested on the timing of presenting those gifts to them. So, he made sure they got them when they did.
Farmer Boy
This installment, featuring Laura’s husband, Almanzo, as the main character, feels very similar to Big Woods in that there is a whole new family to introduce and dynamics to explore. It’s clear that the Wilder family is more grounded and well off than the Ingalls family. Almanzo’s father is a successful farmer with a nice house and barn, and Almanzo hopes to follow in his footsteps.
The Wilders also have their cousins come to stay during Almanzo’s 10th Christmas. The kids’ stockings are filled with multiple gifts and treats. Almanzo gets a storebought cap, a jackknife, mittens, candy, an orange, and some figs. While it still feels measly compared to the piles of electronics, toys, games, clothes, and accessories that modern American children get, after having spent two Christmases with the Ingalls, it feels like a lot.
Wilder’s female perspective makes sure to describe all of the preparations that Almanzo’s mother and sisters make to prepare their Christmas meals. Yet, the boy perspective is always there.
The chapter’s only real conflict comes into play when Almanzo catches his Cousin Frank trying to mess with his father’s horse. Knowing how hard it is to break in a horse, Almanzo tries to stop them, leading to a wrestling match that’s broken up by Almanzo’s older brother, Royal.
It’s a very “boys will be boys” moment that is one of many similar stories in the book that the other books just don’t have. That’s what makes this one unique and builds the excitement of getting to see Almanzo again later in the series when he and Laura first cross paths.
On the Banks of Plum Creek
The series returns to the Ingalls family who are on the move again in On the Banks of Plum Creek. This time, they end up in Minnesota and move to a little underground hut made of dirt while Pa tries his hand at farming and attempts to build his fortune and stability. Ma is happy to have a town nearby that they can walk to and the girls can attend church and school.
There are three Christmases depicted in this book. The first Christmas, the girls are encouraged to ask for horses instead of presents from Santa so that Pa can use them on the farm. The girls are hesitant but eventually agree. In return, they are surprised by two horses in their barn who they name Pet and Patty. They’re also surprised with some Christmas candy, which feels like a bonus gift and partly makes up for the lack of presents in their stockings.
The second year makes up for the first when the family attends church. There, they see their first Christmas tree which is full of presents tied to it. All three of the girls get lavish gifts. Laura gets a fur muff and cape which is so much nicer than her enemy, Nellie Oleson’s. It’s a bit of a savage response to a well-intentioned gift, but after being introduced to Nellie earlier in the book, it feels warranted.
The third year is the first one with really high stakes. This year, Pa decides to run to town just a few days before Christmas, and he gets caught in a snowstorm on his way back. There’s no way to know if he stayed in town or froze to death on the prairie. So, the family worries about him until he comes stomping in with a story about how he hid out in a cave for three days.
Unfortunately, he ate the oyster crackers and Christmas candy during the storm, but the girls are too relieved to see him to care. The family has oyster soup for dinner thanks to the oysters he brought home that were too frozen to eat.
These three contrasting Christmases show that life doesn’t stop for the holidays. Things happen, and it puts Christmas into perspective, particularly for the girls who begin to see that Christmas is more about family than presents.
In their first year, Laura and her older sister, Mary, make a necklace made out of buttons for their baby sister, Carrie. It shows them that Christmas presents are the result of hard work and time and how rewarding it can be to see someone’s reaction to receiving a gift versus just being excited to receive their own.
I feel like this book reflected my own Christmas experiences this age where I was starting to buy gifts for my family at the school holiday shop and going through my own hardships that really put the commercialism of the holiday into perspective. I began to notice that a lot of classic Christmas stories weave heavy conflicts throughout, and it’s only at the end that things turn out well. It can make the anticipation of the build up to Christmas full of stress and worry as you wonder whether or not your family is going to be able to pull off the tiny miracles it takes to make it great.
By The Shores of Silver Lake
In this novel, Laura has reached her teen years. She’s beginning to worry about growing up and how much time she has left to be a kid. The events between this book and the last were also too bleak for the author to write about other than a few sentences to catch up the reader which included the death of Laura’s baby brother, the scarlet fever that plagued the family, and the loss of Mary’s sight.
With nothing left for them at their current spot, the family decides to move to Silver Lake in South Dakota where they hope that things will be better. Pa gets a job in town, and the family hunkers down for the winter in a fully stocked home that will keep them warm and fed until the spring comes and the residents return to stake their claims on the surrounding land.
That Christmas, the Ingalls family expects to be alone. But just beforehand, their friend, Mr. Boast, and his new wife arrive in town. They’re put up in a smaller house next door, and they are invited to spend Christmas with the Ingalls family.
The girls immediately worry what to do about presents. The family had been working hard over several weeks to create homemade gifts for everyone only to fall short by two unexpected guests.
Resourceful Ma finds some items to give away, and on Christmas morning, instead of stockings, everyone has a package to open at their breakfast plate. The Boasts are grateful for their gifts, and the Ingalls are relieved that they were able to pull off the feat as if they had been planning it all along.
The Boasts are not treated as burdens but welcomed guests. They delight in Mrs. Boast’s curiosity and ignorance when it comes to keeping house. Laura is particularly eager to act as her teacher, giving her cooking tips and tutorials. They have so much fun just making their usual Christmas dinner and spending time together that the day flies by.
This Christmas story definitely felt like a coming-of-age tale. Laura is now Ma’s biggest helper, and because of that, she carries her share of the worry and burden of keeping a household running and making sure that big events are made extra special, especially for her younger sisters, Carrie and Grace. Laura may reject adulthood as hers is on the cusp of beginning, but she takes on adult responsibilities like a seasoned pro.
The Long Winter
Probably the most dismal novel of the bunch, The Long Winter chronicles a harsh season that starts early and doesn’t let up until late in the spring. As a result, the train that provides the now established town’s provisions can’t get through. As fast the men try to dig it out, another storm comes through and undoes all of their work.
Christmastime during the long winter comes early on in what turns out to be a very dire winter season. Ma and Pa are cautious enough to know that they shouldn’t go all out, but they still want to make things special. Ma is able to make a watered down oyster soup, and Pa manages to save some Christmas candy before it sold out to be used in place of actual sugar.
Luckily, a pile of newspapers and literally journals arrives from Rev. Alden who promises that a barrel full of Christmas treats, including a turkey, will follow. A bad storm keeps the train from coming, but the newspapers are saved for Christmas and savored by the family who start looking for any form of entertainment they can find to pass the dull, dreary days.
This chapter is about making do and being cautious yet not forgetting to live somewhat in the moment. The family is grateful for what they have yet concerned about the future. And Christmas feels like the last good day until the spring thaw.
I feel like this book reflects those dreary teen years when Christmas starts to lose its luster, especially when there are so many other things to worry about. Laura is approaching adulthood, and she’s finding that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Luckily, things work out, but the importance of Christmas appears to wear off at this point.
Little Town on the Prairie
Little Town on the Prairie is a sigh of relief after the events of the long winter. However, the newest conflict is finally executing the plan to send Mary to a school for the blind. Laura is determined to help out, so she starts taking on jobs and working to earn her teaching certificate to help pay for Mary’s tuition and expenses.
This book shows how driven and focused Laura is. As a result, they are able to send Mary to college, and even though they got what they wanted, they have no desire to celebrate Christmas that year without her.
Laura does get a gift, though, when she is asked to take a teaching test just before Christmas. She passes with flying colors, earning her a certificate to teach up through the third grade.
Laura is in her hustling years. It’s easy to see how much she loves providing for her family and giving her sister the best future she can possibly have after a terrible illness robbed her of her intended fate.
Many adults are too distracted by life to really stop and enjoy the holiday season. This is where Laura is at this point in her life. And the sad part about it is that she’s still just a teen. Those worries she had about growing up at 13 came to fruition, yet she took it all in stride and was ready to do what she needed to do. The Christmas magic is gone, but she’s being fulfilled in other ways.
These Happy Golden Years
The last real entry into the series is the grand finale of childhood as Laura begins dating Almanzo Wilder which culminates in her marrying him just after her teaching career had taken off. The decision is a welcome one, though, as Almanzo proves himself to be a caring provider who loves Laura’s tomboy spirit and even agrees to leave the word “obey” out of their wedding vows.
Almanzo is out of town during their first Christmas as a couple, though. Due to winter weather, the Ingalls family decides to stay home instead of going to church. They make popcorn balls and put together bags of candy in a lowkey celebration.
To their surprise, there’s a knock on the door, and in comes Almanzo, having battled the winter storms to get to her. He brings her a gold bar pin, and in return, he gets to have dinner as an unofficial member of the Ingalls family. He’s a welcomed guest, and it appears at this moment that Laura realizes that she’s destined to be with him.
A short novel called The First Four Years follows this book, and it chronicles Laura and Almanzo’s first four years of married life. These years are no picnic, but like the Ingalls family, it has its ups and downs. Their Christmases are skimmed over as the book briefly recaps each year in four long chapters. So, the Christmas in These Happy Golden Years feels like the last real one of the series.
It’s apparent that Laura’s childhood is over. But her experience, maturity, and the culture surrounding our protagonist proves that she’s ready to tackle adulthood and build a life with this man who is going to walk into it with her.
What are your favorite Christmas moments from the Little House series? Leave your answers in the comments below!
Buy it!
Buy a copy of A Little House Christmas Treasury here, and help support local bookstores!
This is an affiliate link, and I will earn a commission on any sales.
Also check out my post, Ranking The Little House Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder, here!
Pin it to Pinterest!
