Christmas Every Day

First published in 1892, William Dean Howells’s Christmas Every Day is a charming and funny reminder to be careful what you wish for. When a little girl’s holiday dream comes true and Christmas arrives again…and again…and again, the joy of the season quickly turns into delightful chaos.

In this newly refreshed edition—narrated by Andy Andrews—the classic tale shines with modern warmth while preserving the humor and heart that have delighted readers for more than a century. It’s a light, magical story that reminds us why Christmas feels so special precisely because it doesn’t happen every day.

Discussion Questions

1. 1)The little girl believes that more Christmas will automatically mean more happiness. At what point in the story do you think she begins to realize that too much of a good thing can actually take the joy away?
2. 2)As Christmas happens every day, people stop being thankful, patient, and kind. Why do you think gratitude is so closely tied to waiting—and how does this story show what happens when waiting disappears?
3. 3)By the end of the story, the little girl agrees that Christmas once a year is “the good old way.” What traditions in your own life do you think would lose their meaning if they happened all the time?