Description
“Christmas Every Day” by William Dean Howells is a short story about a young girl who wishes for Christmas to occur every day.
In this frame narrative, the girl’s wish comes true, but the constant celebration—with gifts and festive cheer never ceasing—leads to chaos and exhaustion. In the end, she learns that the true value of Christmas lies in its rarity and special nature.
As an extension activity, have students compare how the little girl learns her lesson of appreciation and gratitude to the journey of George Bailey from “It’s a Wonderful Life” (directed by Frank Capra, 1946).
This resource includes:
- Before Reading Activity
- Full Text
- Reading Comprehension Questions
- Movie guide to the classic film: “It’s a Wonderful Life”
- Answer Keys
- Editable Documents