<P><B>A classic presentation of traditional Christmas stories from around the world, mixing Christian and secular tales</B></P><P>The story of the first Christmas, when shepherds looked up from a dark hillside and saw heaven and all its angels, has inspired stories and legends through the ages. Readers of this collection will find themselves under the starry skies of Bethlehem, in the sparkling frosts of the Russian north, or caught up in the fantastical dream of the Nutcracker. These stories will bring joy and laughter year after year and remind you that Christmas is a time of heavenly blessings here on earth. These 12 glorious tales reflect the true spirit of the holiday, and are brought to life with wonderful gold-flecked illustrations—a gift to bring joy and to treasure. Included are Nativity stories from the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, the stories of Baboushka and Papa Panov, Fir Tree, and The Nutcracker.