This family tradition began when I was only 8 years old and continued well into my teens. My mother would call us into the family room….fireplace lit…lights aglow on the Christmas tree…peace and quiet spreading throughout our house as we snuggled under the weight of the family quilt. It was then that my sister and I would anxiously anticipate the opening words; the beginning of a treasured tale from our most prized collection of beloved Christmas stories.

There was something reassuring about this particular ritual. We could hardly wait for my mother to bring out "the book" each December. Year after year, this tradition was carried out in our home and year after year the stories became more and more meaningful to me.

Even when I had grown into a teenager, I still loved it when my mother brought out the much-loved Christmas book. It filled me with a great sense of joy and connection. As I matured, the stories grew richer as my own understanding of their meaning expanded. Steeped in tradition, knowledge, morals and values, the stories gave me new insights about life, love, family and spirituality. As I began experiencing my own personal hopes, dreams and desires, the stories took on a new layer of significance. It happened slowly, but one Christmas, I realized that as I had grown, the stories had grown with me. Now buried deep within my soul their masterfully crafted sentences had become deeply significant. As a young girl I simply loved the magic of the stories; as a young woman, I could more readily relate to the wonder and struggle the characters encountered.

Thank goodness, my mother understood that children never outgrow the desire to hear a story read aloud. She sensed that we loved hearing her comforting voice. Listening to her infuse the literature with life and passion inspired each of us to learn how to use our well-trained voices, empowering us to learn how to express heart-felt enthusiasm.

How grateful I am for her wisdom in creating the tradition of reading a Christmas story each night throughout the month of December. As the years passed, my sister and I developed a love for particular stories…each of us having favorites that touched our lives in special ways….each spending valuable time searching through books to find our preferred stories. As a result, my mother took all of our favorite stories and compiled them into one book so that other parents could help their children develop a deep love of rich literature.

So, as another season approaches, "the book" is being unpacked. My heart is grateful for the strong family traditions I grew up with, my soul anticipating the awakening of the true Spirit of Christmas. My inner child dancing with excitement, wondering which one of these "perfect" Christmas stories I will read to my children this December.

The Most Loved Christmas Stories is a one of a kind holiday collection complied by Irene C. West, former educator with a master's degree in Family History and a special interest in the History of Oral Tradition.  This compilation of favorite Christmas stories will bring back fond memories of strong family values and hearty family traditions.