The Legend of the Christmas Rose

While Abbot Hans was riding toward the forest, he saw that everywhere they were preparing to celebrate Christmas. In every peasant settlement fires were lighted in the bath-house to warm it for the afternoon bathing. Great hunks of meat and bread were being carried from the larders into the cabins, and from the barns came the men with big sheaves of straw to be strewn over the floors.

This Swedish Christmas classic was first printed in the literary journal Julrosor in 1905 and has since become a staple of many Selma Lagerlöf story collections. With its imaginative and rich world filled with ­magic, it is no wonder that The Legend of the Christmas Rose ­continues to resonate with readers young and old alike. A true classic adored by generations over the years, it will surely capture the hearts of readers for years to come.