11 Classic Christmas Stories in the Public Domain (That Are Totally Free & Festive!)

Tired of the same old Hallmark plotlines and overpriced holiday books? Girl, SAME. There’s a whole sleigh full of magical, moving, and sometimes marvelously weird Christmas stories out there – and the best part? They’re totally FREE because they’re in the public domain!

These classic tales of Christmas are ALL in the public domain, which means you can read them, share them, quote them, or even build a whole seasonal campaign around them without worrying about copyright grinches giving you a strike!

So grab a cup of something warm (extra marshmallows encouraged), get cozy in your fluffiest socks, and let’s dive into 11 festive tales you can read, quote, repurpose, and even turn into holiday marketing gold.

1. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (1843)

The OG Christmas redemption arc with ghosts, greed, and goodwill.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Use Scrooge’s transformation to talk about pivoting your brand or values—”It’s never too late for a course correction.”
• Social Media Tip: Post a reel with the ghosts of “Past, Present, and Future You” as a fun year-in-review.
• Ecommerce Tip: Create a “Ghost of Deals Past” promo—bring back customer faves for a limited time.
• Image Generator Prompt: A grumpy Victorian man in a nightcap surrounded by three whimsical Christmas spirits in a snow-covered London street.

2. The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry (1905)

A bittersweet tale of love, sacrifice, and ironic gifts.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Write a blog post about “Giving up good things for GREAT ones” in your biz journey.
• Social Media Tip: Share a relatable post: “Ever given up something big for your business? Let’s hear those Magi Moments.”
• Ecommerce Tip: Bundle mismatched but meaningful products and call it the “Perfectly Imperfect Pairing” gift set.
• Image Generator Prompt: A cozy couple exchanging gifts in a tiny apartment, both surprised and teary-eyed as they realize what they’ve given up for each other.

3. Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore (1823)

The poem that basically invented Santa Claus as we know him!

• Entrepreneur Tip: Use this rhythmic classic to inspire a poetic call-to-action email or landing page.
• Social Media Tip: Turn it into a voiceover reel of you prepping for the holidays—”Twas the night before launch day…”
• Ecommerce Tip: Sell digital downloads with a modern illustrated version—bonus points if it’s brand-personalized.
• Image Generator Prompt: A cozy living room with stockings hung by the chimney, Santa peeking from the fireplace with a finger to his lips.

4. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum (1902)

The Wizard of Oz guy explains Santa’s origin story. Yes, it’s wild!

• Entrepreneur Tip: Use Claus’s humble forest beginnings to talk about building a brand from scratch.
• Social Media Tip: Share your “Santa origin story” with photos of your business beginnings.
• Ecommerce Tip: Create an “Origin Bundle” of your first or most classic products.
• Image Generator Prompt: A young, joyful Santa surrounded by woodland creatures and magical beings crafting toys in a glowing forest workshop.

5. Little Women (Christmas Chapters) by Louisa May Alcott (1868)

Several Christmas scenes show the March sisters giving, growing, and gathering.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Highlight values-driven business decisions with the theme “giving is growing.”
• Social Media Tip: Share your own small biz “Christmas morning” moment—where everything clicked.
• Ecommerce Tip: Offer a sister-themed or “found family” gift bundle.
• Image Generator Prompt: The March sisters huddled around a modest Christmas table with glowing candles, laughter, and snow falling outside the window.

6. Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus by Francis P. Church (1897)

A heartwarming letter and response that has become part of Christmas lore.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Write your own “Yes, [Reader's Name], You Can…” blog or email—encouragement with heart.
• Social Media Tip: Share customer testimonials with whimsical belief-style messaging: “Yes, it really works!”
• Ecommerce Tip: Create a special “Believe” product series, with limited edition packaging or tags.
• Image Generator Prompt: A little girl writing a letter by candlelight in front of a fireplace, with a twinkling North Pole aura forming behind her.

7. The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen (1845)

Warning: this is the saddest Christmas story ever. But beautiful.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Use it to highlight your brand’s charitable giving or cause-driven mission.
• Social Media Tip: Post a quiet, reflective message about gratitude, empathy, or seasonal giving.
• Ecommerce Tip: Donate a portion of December sales to a nonprofit and share the story in your promo.
• Image Generator Prompt: A small girl huddled in the snow, lighting matches that reveal glowing scenes of warmth, food, and family.

8. The Fir Tree by Hans Christian Andersen

A young tree can’t wait to grow up and misses the beauty of the now.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Blog idea: “Why rushing your growth is the quickest way to miss the magic.”
• Social Media Tip: Before/After post of your biz—tree sapling to decorated pine!
• Ecommerce Tip: Sell a “growth tracker” product—journals, planners, or even plantable gift tags.
• Image Generator Prompt: A cartoon fir tree in a snowy forest, eyes wide and eager, watching grown-up trees getting decorated and glowing.

9. The Christmas Tree and the Wedding by Fyodor Dostoevsky

A dark but thought-provoking look at social status during the holidays.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Talk about authenticity in branding—don’t let glitter cover up shallow intentions.
• Social Media Tip: Share a real vs. perfect holiday image series—”Not all Christmases are cozy.”
• Ecommerce Tip: Position your product as the thoughtful alternative to status-y gift giving.
• Image Generator Prompt: A lavish Victorian ballroom with a glowing Christmas tree, while a child watches solemnly from the corner.

10. A Kidnapped Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum

Santa gets snatched by demons, but don’t worry—it ends happily!

• Entrepreneur Tip: Blog idea: “What’s trying to steal your business joy—and how to get it back?”
• Social Media Tip: Reel idea: “If the demons of burnout captured your motivation… here’s the rescue plan.”
• Ecommerce Tip: Create a “Santa Saved!” last-minute gift guide with urgency and fun.
• Image Generator Prompt: Santa tied up (lightheartedly!) in a sparkly cave, surrounded by cartoon demons looking sheepishly guilty.

11. Christmas Every Day by William Dean Howells

What if Christmas happened… every single day? Chaos.

• Entrepreneur Tip: Talk about holiday burnout—“Too much of a good thing is still too much.”
• Social Media Tip: Meme format: Day 1 vs. Day 7 of constant holiday sales.
• Ecommerce Tip: Bundle your top sellers and call it “The Everyday Christmas Kit.”
• Image Generator Prompt: A girl buried in gift boxes, cookies, and ornaments—wide-eyed and exhausted as Christmas chaos swirls around her.

Wrap It Up With a Bow…

These stories aren’t just festive—they’re powerful storytelling tools for your brand. Whether you’re crafting heartfelt email sequences, selling joyful gift bundles, or just want something cozy and clever to share on social, these public domain gems are pure Christmas content magic.

Use them. Remix them. Quote the heck out of them.

Here are some more great articles that you might love:

• Big List Of Annual Marketing Holidays
• When to Start Your Christmas Marketing: A Timeline for Makers, Bloggers & Online Sellers
• Fun Christmas Marketing Campaign Ideas

Disclaimer: I have used AI to make the images for this post! I love that we can generate our own stock photography that shows EXACTLY what we are trying to explain!

Source: https://marketingartfully.com/11-classic-christmas-stories-in-the-public-domain-that-are-totally-free-festive/