A Frozen Christmas (2016)

[bunniefuu]

(uplifting music)

[Santa Voiceover] Ho, ho, ho!

It's that wonderful
time of the year again.

A time to get together
with friends and family

and tell each other
Christmas stories.

(enchanted whooshing)

It's time...

For A Frozen Christmas!

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

(sleigh bells ringing)

(gleeful cheering)

[Penguins] What's up, Santa?

Oh!

You guys!

(laughing)
(cheering)

As soon as I get
this bag up this hill

and into my sleigh.

(panting)

Come on, little helpers.

Hurry up with those gifts.

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa!

(panting)

Almost there.

I'm off to deliver
Christmas presents.

("Deck the Halls")

Meanwhile, you kids
just gather around

and listen to our
first Christmas tale.

It's called Little
Girl's Christmas.

And it goes like this.

[Narrator] It
was Christmas Eve,

and Little Girl had just
hung up her stocking

by the fireplace.

Right where it would
be, all ready for Santa

when he came down the chimney.

She knew he was coming

because it was Christmas Eve.

And he always came to
leave gifts for her

on all the other Christmas Eves.

Still, she wasn't
quite satisfied.

Way down in her heart,

she was a little uncertain.

She wasn't sure she
really believed in Santa

even though he had always
left beautiful gifts for her

every time he had come.

"Oh, he'll come,"
said Little Girl.

"I just know he will
be here before morning.

"But somehow I wish."

"Well, what do you wish," said
a tiny voice close by her.

So close that Little Girl
jumped when she heard it.

"Why, I wish I could
see Santa myself.

"I'd just like to
go and see his house

"and his workshop and
ride in his sleigh

"and know Mrs. Santa.

"It would be such fun.

"And then I'd know for sure."

"Why don't you go
then," said Tiny Voice.

"It's easy enough,
just try on these shoes

"and take this
light in your hand,

"and you'll find
your way alright."

So Little Girl looked
down on the hearth,

and there were two
cute little shoes.

Side by side.

And a little spark of
light close to them,

just as if they
were all made out of

one of the glowing
coals of the fireplace.

Such cute shoes as they were,

Little Girl could hardly
wait to pull off her slippers

and try them on.

They fit exactly right.

And just as Little Girl
had put them both on

and had taken the
light in her hand,

along came a little
breath of wind

and away she went,
up the chimney,

along with ever so many
other little sparks.

Past the Soot Fairies

and out into the open air,

where Jack Frost
and the Star Beams

were all busy at work,

making the world look
pretty for Christmas.

Away went Little Girl,

Two Shoes, Bright Light and all.

Higher and higher,

until she looked like
a tiny star herself.

It was the funniest thing,

but she seemed to
know the way perfectly

and didn't have to stop to
make inquiries anywhere.

You see, it was a
straight road all the way.

And when one doesn't
have to think

about turning to the
right or to the left,

it makes things much easier.

Pretty soon, Little Girl noticed

that there was a bright
light all around her.

And right away, something
down in her heart

began to make her feel
very happy indeed.

She didn't know that
the Christmas spirits

and little Christmas
fairies were all around her,

and even right inside her,

because she couldn't see
a single one of them.

But that was just it.

And Little Girl felt

as if she wanted to laugh
and sing and be glad.

By and by, when the bright
light all around her

had grown much brighter,

Little Girl saw a path
right in front of her

all straight and trim,

leading up a hill
to a big, big house

with ever and ever so
many windows in it.

When she had gone
just a bit nearer,

she saw candles in every window.

Red and green and yellow ones.

And every one burning brightly.

So Little Girl knew right away

that these were
Christmas candles

to light her on her journey

and make the way for her.

And something told her that
this was Santa's house.

And that pretty soon,

she would perhaps
see Santa himself.

Just as she neared the steps

and before she could
possibly have had time

to ring the bell,

the door opened.

And there stood,
not Santa himself,

but a funny little man
with slender little legs

and a roly-poly stomach,

which shook every now
and then when he laughed.

You would've known right away,

just as Little Girl knew,

that he was a very
happy little happy man.

And you would've
guessed right away, too,

that the reason he
was so roly-poly

was because he
laughed and chuckled

and smiled all the time.

Quick as a wink,

he pulled off his
little peaked red cap,

smiled the brightest
kind of smile and said,

"Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

"Come in! Come in!"

So in went Little Girl,

holding fast to
Little Man's hand,

and when she was inside,

she saw the jolliest,
reddest fire

all glowing and snapping.

And there were Little Man and
all his brothers and sisters

who said their names were
Merry Christmas and Good Cheer

and ever so many other
jolly-sounding things.

And there were
such a lot of them

that Little Girl just knew

she never could count them

no matter how long she tried.

All around her were
bundles and boxes

and piles of toys and games.

And Little Girl knew

that these were all
ready and waiting

to be loaded into
Santa's big sleigh,

for his reindeer
to whirl them away

over cloud tops and snowdrifts.

To the little people down below

who have left their
stockings all ready for him,

pretty soon, all the
little Good Cheer Brothers

began to hurry and bustle

and carry out the bundles
as fast as they could

to the steps where Little Girl

could hear the jingling bells

and the stamping of hooves.

So Little Girl picked
up some bundles

and skipped along, too.

For she wanted to
help a bit herself.

And there in the yard
stood the biggest sleigh

that Little Girl had ever seen.

And the reindeer were
all stomping and prancing

and jingling the bells
on their harnesses

because they were so eager

to be on their way to
the Earth once more.

She could hardly wait
for Santa to come.

And just as she had begun
to wonder where he was,

the door opened again

and out came a whole
forest of Christmas trees.

At least it looked just
as if a whole forest

had started out for a walk.

But when Little
Girl looked again,

she saw thousands of
Christmas spirits.

And that each one carried a tree

or a big Christmas
wreath on his back.

Behind them all,

she could hear someone
laughing loudly

and talking in a
big, jovial voice,

that sounded as if
he were good friends

with the whole world.

And right away she knew

that Santa himself was coming.

Little Girl's
heart thumped aloud

while she wondered if
Santa would notice her.

But she didn't have
to wonder long,

for he spotted her
at once and said,

"Bless my soul, who are you?

"And where did you come from?"

Little Girl thought perhaps

she might be afraid
to answer him.

But she wasn't one bit afraid.

He had such a kind
little twinkle in his eye

that she felt happy right
away as she replied,

"Oh, I'm Little Girl,

"and I wanted so
much to see Santa

"that I came to your
house, and here I am."

"Ho, ho, ho, ho,
ho," laughed Santa.

"And here you are.

"Wanted to see Santa, did you?

"And so you came.

"Now that's very nice.

"And it's too bad
I'm in such a hurry.

"For I would love
to show you about.

"But you see,

"it is quarter of now,

"and I must be on
my way at once.

"Else, I'll never reach that
first chimney-top by midnight."

And good old Santa
put his big, warm hand

on Little Girl's curls.

And she felt his kindness
down to her heart.

She knew that even though Santa

was in such a great hurry,

he wasn't too busy to stop

and make someone
happy for a minute.

Even if it was someone
no bigger than herself.

So she smiled back and said,

"Oh, Santa.

"If I could only ride
down to Earth with you

"behind those pretty reindeer.

"I'd love to go.

"Won't you please take me?

"I'm so small

"that I won't take up
much room on the seat.

"And I'll keep very still
and not bother you."

Santa laughed a big and loud

and rollicking
laughter, and he said,

"Wants a ride, does she?

"Well, well, shall we
take her, Little Elves?

"Shall we take her,
Little Fairies?

"Shall we take
her, Good Reindeer?

And all the Little
Elves hopped and skipped

and brought Little
Girl a sprig of holly.

And all the Little
Fairies bowed and smiled

and brought her a
bit of mistletoe.

And all the Good Reindeer
jingled their bells loudly,

which meant, "Oh,
yes, let's take her!

"She's a good Little Girl.

"Let her ride!"

And before Little
Girl could even think,

she found herself all tucked up

in the big fur
robes beside Santa,

and away they went,
right out into the air,

over the clouds,
through the Milky Way,

and right under the
handle of the Big Dipper,

on, on, toward the Earth,

whose lights Little
Girl began to see

twinkling away down below her.

Now she felt the runners
scrape upon something,

and she knew they must
be on someone's roof,

and that Santa would slip down

someone's chimney in a minute.

How she wanted to go, too.

So, just as Little Girl was
wishing as hard she could,

she heard a tiny voice say,

"Hold tight to his arm,
hold tight to his arm!"

So she held Santa's
arm tight and close

as he shouldered his pack,

never thinking that it
was heavier than usual,

and with a bound and a
slide, there they were,

Santa, Little
Girl, pack and all,

right in the middle of the room

where there was a fireplace

and stockings all hung
up for Santa to fill.

Just then Santa
noticed Little Girl.

He had forgotten all about her,

and he was very much surprised

to find that she had come, too.

"Bless my soul!" he said.

"Where did you come
from, Little Girl?

"And how in the world
can we both get back up

"that chimney again?

"It's easy enough to slide down,

"but it's quite another
matter to climb up again!"

And Santa looked really worried.

But Little Girl was
beginning to feel very tired,

for she had had a
very exciting evening,

so she said, "Oh,
never mind me, Santa.

"I've had such a good time,

"and I can stay here a while.

"I believe I'll curl up
on this rug a few minutes

"and have a little nap,

"for it looks as warm and cozy

"as our own rug at home,

"and, wait a moment,

"it is our own hearth
and it's my own nursery,

"for there is Teddy
Bear in his chair

"where I leave him every night,

"and there's Kitty
Cat curled up on his

"cushion in the corner."

And Little Girl
turned to thank Santa

and say goodbye to him,

but either he had
gone very quickly,

or else she had fallen
asleep very quickly,

for the next thing she knew,

Daddy was holding her in
his arms and was saying,

"What is my Little
Girl doing here?

"She must go to bed,
for it's Christmas Eve,

"and Santa won't come

"if he thinks there are
any little girls about."

But Little Girl knew
better than that,

and when she began to
tell him all about it,

and how the Christmas
fairies had welcomed her,

and how Santa had given
her such a fine ride,

Daddy laughed and said, "You've
been dreaming, Little Girl,

"you've been dreaming."

But Little Girl knew
better than that, too,

for there by the fireplace

was the little Black Coal,

which had given her Two
Shoes and Bright Light,

and tight in her hand
she held a holly berry,

which one of the Christmas
spirits had placed there.

More than all that, there
she was on the rug herself,

just as Santa had left her,

and that was the
best proof of all.

(grunting)

I'm in a rush to
get these presents

into a chimney before midnight.

Santa's work is never done.

(grunting)

Ooh. Ouch!

Hey! You caught me!

Well, hey there!

Shh, don't wanna
wake anybody up.

Oh, oh.

Ow, ow! Ooh!

They make these things
smaller every year.

(grunting)

Ho, ho, ho!

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

Are you ready for
our next story?

It's one of my favorite
classic holiday tales.

It's called the Fir Tree.

And this is how it goes.

[Narrator] Far
away in the forest

where the warm sun
and the fresh air

made a sweet resting-place,

grew a pretty little fir tree.

It was such a fine
place to grow.

And yet the little
tree was not happy.

It wished so much to be
like its tall companions,

the pines and the firs
which grew around it.

The sun shone, and the soft
air fluttered its leaves,

and the children passed
by, running merrily,

but the fir tree
did not notice them.

Sometimes the children
would bring a large basket

of raspberries or strawberries

and seat themselves near
the fir tree, and say,

"Is it not a pretty
little tree?"

Which made it feel even
more unhappy than before.

And yet all this while,

the tree grew taller every year.

Still, as it grew,
it complained,

"Oh, how I wish I were as
tall as the other trees,

"then I would spread out
my branches on every side,

"and my crown would overlook
the wide world around.

"I should have the birds
build nests on my branches,

"and when the wind blows,

"I should bow with great dignity
like my tall companions."

So discontented was the tree

that it took no pleasure
in the warm sunshine,

the birds, or the rosy clouds

that floated over it
morning and evening.

Sometimes, in the winter,

when the snow lay white and
glittering on the ground,

there was a little hare that
would come springing along,

and jumped right over
the little tree's head.

That mortified the tree so much.

"Oh, the shame!" it would say.

"I'm so small!"

But two winters passed,

and when the third arrived,

the tree had grown so tall

that the hare was
forced to hop round it.

Yet the fir remained
unsatisfied, and would exclaim,

"Oh, to grow, to grow!

"If I could but keep on
growing tall and great,

"there is nothing else worth
caring for in the world!"

In the autumn, the
wood-cutters came as usual

and cut down several
of the tallest trees,

and the young fir,

which was now grown
to its full height,

shuddered as the noble trees
fell to the earth with a crash.

Then they were placed one
upon another upon wagons

and drawn by horses
out of the forest.

"Where could they be going?

"What would become of them?"

The young fir tree
wished to know.

"Rejoice in your youth,"
said the sunbeam.

"Rejoice in your fresh growth,

"and in the young
life that is in you."

And the wind kissed the tree,

and the dew watered
it with tears,

but the fir tree
regarded them not.

Christmas time drew near,

and many young
trees were cut down,

laid on wagons and
drawn by horses

far away out of the forest.

"Where are they going?"
asked the fir tree.

"They are not taller than I am.

"Indeed, one is not so tall,

"and why do they keep
all their branches?"

"We know, we know,"
said the sparrows.

"We have looked in at the windows
of the houses in the town,

"and we know what
is done with them.

"Oh, you cannot think what
honor and glory they receive.

"They are dressed up in
the most splendid manner.

"We have seen them standing
in the middle of a warm room,

"and adorned with all
sorts of beautiful things,

"honey cakes, gilded
apples, playthings,

"and colorful baubles."

"And then," asked the fir tree,

trembling in all its branches,
"and then what happens?"

"We did not see any
more," said the sparrows,

"but this was enough for us."

"I wonder whether
anything so brilliant

"will ever happen to
me," thought the tree.

"Oh, when will
Christmas be here?

"I am now as tall and
well grown as those

"which were taken
away last year.

"Oh, will I be
laid on the wagon,

"and stood in the warm room,

"with all that brightness
and splendor around me?

"Something better and more
beautiful is to come after,

"or the trees would
not be so decked out.

"Yes, what follows will be
grander and more splendid.

"What can it be?

"I am weary with
longing to know."

"Rejoice in our love," said
the air and the sunlight.

"Enjoy your own bright
life in the fresh air."

But the tree would not rejoice,

though it grew taller every day,

its dark-green foliage
might be seen in the forest,

and passersby would say,
"What a beautiful tree!"

Finally, one year, a short
time before Christmas,

the discontented fir tree
was the first to fall.

As the axe cut sharply
through the trunk,

the tree fell with a
groan to the earth,

conscious of pain and faintness,

and forgetting all its
dreams of happiness,

in sorrow at leaving
its home in the forest.

It knew that it
should never again

see its dear old
companions, the trees,

nor the little bushes
and many-colored flowers

that had grown by its side,

perhaps not even the birds.

Nor was the journey
at all pleasant.

The tree first recovered itself

while being unpacked in
the courtyard of a house,

with several other trees.

It heard a man say,
"We only want one,

"and this is the prettiest.

"This is beautiful!"

Then came two servants
in grand livery,

and carried the fir
tree into a large

and beautiful apartment.

Pictures hung on the walls,

and near the great stove
stood great china vases,

with lions on the lids.

There were rocking
chairs, silken sofas,

large tables, covered with
pictures, books, and toys

that had cost a hundred
times a hundred dollars.

At least, so said the children.

Then the fir tree was placed
in a large tub full of sand,

but green tinsel
hung all around it,

so that no one could
know it was a tub,

and it stood on a
very handsome carpet.

Oh, how the fir tree trembled.

What was going to
happen to him now?

Some young ladies came in,

and the servants helped
them to adorn the tree.

On one branch they hung
strung, colored paper,

and beautiful glass baubles.

From other branches hung
gilded apples and walnuts,

and all round, were
hundreds of red, blue,

and white candles, which were
fastened upon the branches.

And the tree had never
seen such things before,

and at the top was
fastened a glittery star,

made of gold tinsel.

Oh, it was very beautiful!

"This evening,"
they all exclaimed,

"how bright it will be!"

"Oh, that the evening were
come," thought the tree,

"and the candles lit!

"Then I should know what
else is going to happen.

"Will the trees of the
forest come to see me?

"Or the sparrows peep in
at the windows, I wonder,

"as they fly?

"Shall I grow faster here,

"and keep on all these ornaments
during summer and winter?"

But guessing was
of very little use.

His back ached for trying,

and this pain is as bad
for a slender fir tree,

as a headache is for us.

At last the candles were lit,

and then what a glistening
blaze of splendor

the tree presented!

It trembled so with joy
in all its branches,

that one of the candles
fell among the green leaves

and burnt some of the ornaments

and carefully-wrapped
gifts below!

After this, the tree tried
not to tremble at all,

though the fire frightened him.

He was so anxious not to damage

any of the beautiful ornaments,

even while their
brilliancy dazzled him.

And now the folding
doors were thrown open,

and a troop of
children rushed in

as if they intended
to upset the tree

and were followed more
slowly by their elders.

For a moment the little ones
stood silent with astonishment,

and then they shouted for
joy, till the room rang,

and they danced merrily
around the tree,

while one present after
another was taken from it.

"What are they doing?

"What will happen
next?" thought the tree.

At last, the candles
burnt down to the branches

and were put out.

Then, the children received
permission to plunder the tree.

Oh, how they rushed upon it.

There was such a riot
that the branches cracked,

and had it not been fastened
to the glistening star

on the ceiling, it must
have been thrown down.

Then, the children danced
about with their pretty toys,

and no one noticed the tree,

except the children's
maid who came and peeped

among the branches to
see if an apple or a fig

had been forgotten.

"A story, a story,"
cried the children,

pulling a little fat
man toward the tree.

"Now we shall be in green
shade," said the man,

as he seated himself
under the tree,

"and the tree will have the
pleasure of hearing also,

"but I shall only relate
one story, what shall it be?

"Humpty Dumpty, who fell down
stairs, but soon got up again,

"and at last
married a princess?"

"Yes!" cried the children.

And there was a wild uproar.

But the fir tree
remained quite still,

and thought to himself,

"Shall I have anything
to do with all this?

"Ought I to make a noise, too?"

But he had already amused
them as much as they wished.

Then the old man told them
the story of Humpty Dumpty,

how he fell down the stairs,
and was raised up again,

and married a princess.

And the children clapped
their hands and cried,

"Tell another, tell another!"

After this, the fir tree became
quite silent and thoughtful.

Never had the birds in the
forest told such tales as

Humpty Dumpty who
fell down the stairs,

and yet married a princess.

"Ah, yes, so it happens in the
world," thought the fir tree.

He believed it all,

because it was related
by such a pleasant man.

"Ah, well," he
thought, "who knows?

"Perhaps I may fall down,
too, and marry a princess."

And he looked forward
joyfully to the next evening,

expecting to be again decked out

with lights and
toys, gold and fruit.

"Tomorrow I will not
tremble," thought he.

"I will enjoy all my splendor,

"and I shall hear the story
of Humpty Dumpty again."

And the tree remained quiet
and thoughtful all night.

In the morning, the servants
and the housemaid came in.

"Now," thought the fir tree,

"all my splendor is
going to begin again."

But they dragged
him out of the room

and upstairs to the attic,
and threw him on the floor,

in a dark corner, where
no daylight shone,

and there they left him.

"What does this mean?"
thought the tree,

"what am I to do here?

"I can hear nothing
in a place like this,"

and he leaned against the
wall and thought and thought.

And he had time enough to think,

for days and nights passed
and no one came near him,

and when at last
somebody did come,

it was only to push away
some large boxes in a corner.

So the tree was completely
hidden from sight

as if it had never existed.

"It is winter now,"
thought the tree,

"the ground is hard
and covered with snow,

"so that people cannot plant me.

"I shall be sheltered
here, I dare say,

"until spring comes.

"How thoughtful and
kind everybody is to me!

"Still, I wish this
place were not so dark

"and so dreadfully lonely,

"with not even a
little hare to look at.

"How pleasant it was
out in the forest

"while the snow
lay on the ground,

"when the hare
would run by, yes,

"and jump over me, too,

"although I did
not like it then.

"Oh, it is terrible
lonely in here."

"Squeak, squeak,"
said a little mouse,

creeping cautiously
towards the tree,

then came another.

And they both sniffed
at the fir tree

and crept in and out
between the branches.

"Oh, it is very cold in
here," said the little mouse.

"If it were not, we would
be very comfortable here,

"wouldn't we, old fir tree?"

"I am not old,"
said the fir tree,

"there are many who
are older than I am."

"Where do you come
from?" asked the mice,

who were full of curiosity.

"And what do you know?

"Have you seen the most
beautiful places in the world,

"and can you tell
us all about them?

"And have you been
in the storeroom,

"where cheeses lie on the shelf,

"and hams hang from the ceiling?

"One can go in thin and come
out fat in a place like that."

"I know nothing of
that," said the fir tree,

"but I know the wood
where the sun shines

"and the birds sing."

And then the tree told the
little mice all about its youth.

They had never heard such
an account in their lives,

and after they had listened
to it attentively, they said,

"What a number of
things you have seen!

"You must have been very happy."

"Happy," exclaimed the fir tree,

and then as he reflected on
what he had been telling them,

he said, "Ah, yes, after
all, those were happy days."

But when he went on and related
all about Christmas Eve,

and how he had been dressed
up with cakes and candles,

the mice said, "How
happy you must have been,

"you old fir tree."

"I am not old at all,"
replied the fir tree,

"I only came from the
forest this winter."

"What splendid stories you can
tell," said the little mice.

And the next night four
other mice came with them

to hear what the
tree had to tell.

The more he talked,
the more he remembered,

and then he thought to himself,

"Yes, those were happy days,
but they may come again.

"Humpty Dumpty fell down stairs,

"and yet he married a princess,

"perhaps I may marry
a princess, too."

And the fir tree thought of
the pretty little birch tree

that grew in the forest,

a real princess, a beautiful
princess she was to him.

"Who is Humpty Dumpty?"
asked the little mice.

And then the tree
told the whole story.

He could remember
every single word.

The next night a great many
more mice made their appearance,

and on Sunday two
rats came with them,

but they said, it was not
a pretty story at all,

and the little mice
were very sorry,

for it made them also
think less of it.

"Do you know only that one
story?" asked the rats.

"Only that one,"
replied the fir tree.

"I heard it on the happiest
evening of my life,

"but I did not know I was
so happy at the time."

"We think it is a very
miserable story," said the rats.

"Don't you know any
story about bacon,

"or cheese in the storeroom?"

"No," replied the tree.

"Many thanks to you
then," replied the rats,

and they went on their way.

The little mice also
kept away after this,

and the tree sighed, and said,

"It was very pleasant

"when the merry little
mice sat round me

"and listened while I talked.

"Now that is all passed, too.

"Oh, how I shall
consider myself happy

"when someone comes to
take me out of this place."

But would this ever happen?

Yes.

One morning, people came
to clear up the attic,

the boxes were packed away,

and the tree was pulled
out of the corner,

and thrown roughly on the floor.

Then it was carried downstairs

and taken into the
courtyard so quickly,

that it forgot to
think of itself,

and could only look about,
there was so much to be seen.

The court was close to a garden,

where everything
looked blooming.

Fresh and fragrant roses
hung over the little palings.

The linden trees were in
blossom, and the birds sang.

"Now I shall live,"
cried the tree joyfully,

spreading out its
branches, but alas,

they were all
withered and yellow,

and it lay in the corner
amongst weeds and nettles.

The star of gold paper still
stuck in the top of the tree

glittered in the sunshine.

In the same courtyard,
two of the merry children

who had danced around the
tree at Christmas time,

and had been so
happy, were playing.

The youngest saw
the gilded star,

and ran and pulled
it off the tree.

"Look what is sticking to
the ugly old fir tree,"

said the child,
treading on the branches

till they crackled
under his boots.

And the tree saw all the fresh
bright flowers in the garden,

and then looked at itself,

and wished it had remained in
the dark corner of the attic.

It thought of its fresh
youth in the forest,

of the merry Christmas evening,

and of the little mice

who had listened to the
story of Humpty Dumpty.

"The past, it's all in the
past!" said the poor tree.

"Oh, had I but enjoyed myself
while I could have done so!

"But now it is too late."

Then, a boy came and chopped
the tree into small pieces,

till a large bundle lay
in a heap on the ground.

The pieces were
placed in the fire,

and they blazed up brightly
while the tree sighed deeply.

"Pop, pop," sighed
his burning branches.

Then, the children,
who were at play,

came and seated themselves
in front of the fire,

and gazed at it.

With each pop, which
was a deep sigh,

the tree was thinking of a
summer day in the forest,

or of some winter night there

when the stars shone brightly,

and of Christmas evening,
and of Humpty Dumpty,

the only story it had ever
heard or knew how to tell,

till at last it was consumed.

The boys still
played in the garden,

and the youngest wore the
golden star on his breast,

with which the tree
had been adorned

during the happiest
evening of its existence.

And the tree was gone.

But its great spirit,

with all the lessons it
had learned in its life...

[Narrator] Was now
shining brighter than ever.

[Narrator] Was now shining

brighter than ever, and
it joined the clouds

and the singing
birds and the breeze

and the shining sun.

And so, from now on,

the little fir tree, which
was no longer little,

which was no longer even a tree,

was now everything
in everything.

All at once, forever.

Ho, ho, ho.

Wasn't that a wonderful
Christmas story?

Now have I got a
surprise for you.

Here are two of my
very good friends.

Gingerbread Man and his buddy,

Gingerbread Boy.

They'll entertain you
with a holiday dance

called the Dance of
the Sugar Crumbs.

That's right, this is
how our dough rolls.

(laughing)

Take it from here, fellas!

(upbeat dance music)

And now the story of a
brave little tin soldier

who fell in love with
a beautiful dancer.

One of my favorites.

(holiday piano music)

(sleigh bells ringing)

[Narrator] There were once
five and tin soldiers,

who were all brothers,

for they had been made out
of the same old tin spoon.

They shouldered arms and
looked straight before them,

and wore a splendid
uniform, red and blue.

The first thing in the world
they ever heard were the words,

"Tin soldiers!" shouted
by a little boy,

who clapped his hands with
delight when the lid of the box,

in which they lay,
was taken off.

They were given him
for a birthday present,

and he stood at the
table to set them up.

The soldiers were all
exactly alike, except one,

who had only one leg.

When it came to making him,

there was not enough of the
melted tin to finish him,

so they made him to
stand firmly on one leg,

and this caused him
to be very remarkable.

The table on which the
tin soldiers stood,

was covered with
other playthings,

but the most
attractive to the eye

was a pretty little
paper castle.

Through the small windows
the rooms could be seen.

In front of the castle
a number of little trees

surrounded a piece of glass,

which was represented
a beautiful lake.

Swans, made of wax,
swam on the lake,

and were reflected in it.

All this was very pretty,

but the prettiest of all
was a tiny little lady,

who stood at the open
door of the castle.

She, also, was made of paper,

and she wore a dress
of clear blue muslin.

The little lady was a dancer,

and she stretched
out both her arms,

and she raised one
of her legs so high,

that the tin soldier
could not see it at all,

and he thought that she, like
himself, had only one leg.

"That is the wife
for me," he thought,

"but she is too beautiful
and lives in a castle,

"while I have only
a box to live in,

" of us soldiers, that
is no place for her.

"Still I must try to meet her."

Then he laid himself at
full length on the table

behind a toy box
that stood upon it,

so that he could stare at
the little delicate dancer,

who continued to
stand on one leg

without losing her balance.

When evening came,

the other tin soldiers
were all placed in the box,

and the people of the
house went to bed.

Then the toys began to have
their own games together,

to pay visits, to have pillow
fights, and to give parties.

The tin soldiers
rattled in their box.

They wanted to get out
and join the amusements,

but they could not open the lid.

The nutcrackers
played at leap-frog,

and the dolls
danced on the table.

There was such a noise
that the canary woke up

and began to talk,
and in poetry, too.

Only the tin soldier
and the dancer

remained in their places.

She stood on tiptoe, with
her legs stretched out,

as firmly as he
did on his one leg.

He never took his eyes
from her for even a moment.

The clock struck ,
and, with a bounce,

up sprang the lid
of the toy box,

but instead of toys,

there jumped out a
little black goblin.

"Tin soldier," said the goblin,

"don't wish for what
does not belong to you."

But the tin soldier
pretended not to hear.

"Very well, wait till tomorrow
then," said the goblin.

When the children came
in the next morning,

they placed the tin
soldier in the window.

Now, whether it was
the goblin who did it,

or the wind, is not known,

but the window flew open,
and out fell the tin soldier,

heels over head,
from the third story,

into the street beneath.

It was a terrible fall,
for he came head downwards,

his helmet and his bayonet
stuck in between the flagstones,

and his one leg up in the air.

The maid and the little boy
went downstairs directly

to look for him, but he
was nowhere to be seen,

although once they
nearly stepped on him.

If he had called
out, "Here I am,"

it would have been all right,

but he was too proud
to cry out for help

while he wore a uniform.

Soon it began to rain,

and the drops fell
faster and faster,

till there was a heavy shower.

When it was over, two
boys happened to pass by,

and one of them said, "Look,
there is a tin soldier.

"He ought to have
a boat to sail in."

So they made a boat
out of newspaper,

and placed the
tin soldier in it,

and sent him sailing
down the gutter,

while the two boys
ran by the side of it,

and clapped their hands.

Large waves swept the tin
soldier down the gutter,

for the rain had
been very heavy.

The paper boat
rocked up and down,

and turned itself around
sometimes so quickly

that the tin soldier
almost lost his footing,

yet he remained firm.

He looked straight before him
and shouldered his musket.

Suddenly, the boat
sh*t under a bridge

which formed a part of a drain,

and then it was as dark
as the tin soldier's box.

"Where am I going
now?" thought he.

"This is the black
goblin's fault, I am sure.

"Ah, well, if the little lady

"were only here
with me in the boat,

"I should not care
for any darkness."

Suddenly, there appeared a big
rat who lived in the drain.

"Do you have a drain
pass?" asked the rat,

"give it to me at once."

But the tin soldier
remained silent

and held his musket
tighter than ever.

The boat sailed on and
the rat followed it,

yelling at nobody in
particular, "Stop him, stop him!

"He has not paid toll and
has not shown his pass."

But the stream rushed
on even stronger.

The tin soldier could
already see daylight

shining over yonder.

Then, he heard a roaring sound

terrible enough to
frighten the bravest man.

At the end of the tunnel the
drain fell into a large canal

as tall to him as a
waterfall would be to us.

He was too close to it to stop,

so the boat rushed on,
and the poor tin soldier

could only hold himself
as stiffly as possible,

without moving an eyelid, to
show that he was not afraid.

The boat whirled around
three or four times,

and then filled with
water to the very edge.

Nothing could save
it from sinking.

The brave soldier now stood
up to his neck in water,

while deeper and
deeper sank the boat,

and the paper became soft
and loose with the wet,

till at last the water closed
over the soldier's head.

He thought of the
elegant little dancer

whom he should never see again,

and the words of the
song sounded in his ears,

"Farewell, warrior, ever brave,

"Drifting onward to thy grave."

Then the paper boat
fell to pieces,

and the soldier
sank into the water

and immediately afterwards was
swallowed up by a large fish.

Oh, how dark it was
inside the fish!

A great deal darker than in
the tunnel, and narrower, too,

but the tin soldier
continued firm,

and lay at full length
shouldering his musket.

The fish swam to and fro,

making the most
wonderful movements,

but at last he
became quite still.

After a while,

a flash of lightning
seemed to pass through him,

and then the daylight approached,
and a voice cried out,

"I have found the tin soldier!"

The fish had been caught,

taken to the market
and sold to the cook,

who took him into the kitchen

and cut him open
with a large Kn*fe.

She picked up the soldier
and held him by the waist

between her finger and thumb,

and carried him into the room.

They were all anxious to
see this wonderful soldier

who had traveled
about inside a fish,

but he was not at all proud.

They placed him on the table,

and how many curious things
do happen in the world!

There he was in
the very same room

from the window of
which he had fallen,

there were the same
children, the same toys,

and the pretty castle with
the elegant little dancer

at the door, still balancing
herself on one leg.

It touched the tin
soldier so much to see her

that he almost wept tin
tears, but he held them back.

He only looked at while
they both remained silent.

Then, one of the little boys
picked up the tin soldier,

and threw him into the stove.

He had no reason for doing so,

therefore it must have been
the fault of the black goblin

who lived in the toy box.

The flames b*rned
up the tin soldier,

while he remained standing,
the heat was very terrible,

but whether it was
caused by the real fire

or from the fire of
love, he could not tell.

Then he noticed that
the bright colors

had faded from his uniform,

but whether they had been
washed off during his journey

or from the effects of his
sorrow, no one could say.

He looked at the little
lady, and she looked at him.

He felt himself melting away,

but he still remained firm
with his g*n on his shoulder.

Suddenly, the door
of the room flew open

and the draft of air caught
up the little dancer,

she fluttered right
into the stove

by the side of the tin soldier,

and was instantly in
flames and was gone.

The tin soldier melted
down into a lump,

and the next morning,

when the maid took the
ashes out of the stove,

she found him in the shape
of a little tin heart.

And near that heart was
the dancer's tinsel rose,

now burnt black as a cinder.

(lighthearted piano music)

The tin soldier and the dancer

were never separated again.

I love happy endings.

Ho, ho! What's this?

Oh, little Kate has been
good this year again.

I better get her
a present, stat!

(sleigh bells ringing)

(sleigh whirring)

Oh boy, this is quite
a view from up here.

I'm just a romantic, especially
during Christmas time.

Our next tale is called The
Elves and the Shoemaker.

And it goes like this.

(enchanted music)

(lighthearted holiday music)

(sleigh bells ringing)

[Narrator] There
once was a shoemaker,

who worked very hard
and was very honest,

but could not earn
enough to live upon.

Finally, all he had
in the world was gone,

save for a little leather enough
to make one pair of shoes.

One night, he cut
his leather out,

meaning to rise
early in the morning

to make a pair of shoes.

His conscience was clear
and his heart light

amidst all his troubles,

so he went peacefully to bed,

left all his cares to Heaven,

and soon fell asleep.

In the morning, after
he had said his prayers,

he sat himself down to his work,

when, to his great wonder,

there stood a pretty pair
of shoes all ready made.

The good man did not
know what to say or think

at such an odd sight.

He looked at the workmanship,

there was not one false
stitch in the whole job.

All was so neat and true, that
it was quite a masterpiece.

The same day, a
customer came in,

and the shoes suited him so well

that he willingly paid a price
higher than usual for them,

and the poor shoemaker,
with the money,

bought leather enough
to make two more pairs.

In the evening he
cut the leather work,

and went to bed early,

that he might get up and
begin work early the next day,

but he was saved
all the trouble,

for when he got
up in the morning,

the work was already done.

Soon, in came buyers,

who paid him handsomely
for his shoes,

so that he bought leather
enough for four more pairs.

He cut out the work again
and left it overnight

and found it done
in the morning,

and so it went on for some time,

so that the good man
soon became thriving

and well off again.

One evening, about
Christmas time,

as the shoemaker and his wife

were sitting over the
fire chatting together,

he said to her, "I should like
to sit up and watch tonight,

"that we may see
who it is that comes

"and does my work for me."

The wife liked the thought,

so they left a light burning,

and hid themselves in
a corner of the room,

behind a curtain and
watched what happened.

As soon as it was midnight,

there came in two little elves
wearing ragged old clothes

and worn out shoes.

And they sat themselves
upon the shoemaker's bench,

took up all the work
that was cut out,

and began to ply with
their little fingers,

stitching and rapping and
tapping away at such a rate,

that the shoemaker
was all wonder,

and could not take
his eyes off them.

And on they went,
till the job was done,

and the shoes stood ready
for use upon the table.

Then they bustled away
just before daybreak.

The next day, the wife
said to the shoemaker,

"These little elves
have made us rich,

"and we ought to be
thankful to them,

"and do something
for them in return.

"I will make each
of them a new shirt,

"and a coat and waistcoat
and a pair of pants,

"and you make each of
them a new pair of shoes,

"what do you say?"

The thought pleased the
good shoemaker very much,

and one evening, when all the
clothes and shoes were ready,

they laid them on the
table and hid themselves

to watch what the
little elves would do.

About midnight, in they
came, dancing and skipping,

hopping around the room,

and then went to sit down
to their work as usual,

but when they saw the clothes
and shoes laid out for them,

they laughed and danced and
seemed mightily delighted.

Then, they changed themselves
into the new clothes

and danced and sprang
about, as merry as could be,

till at last they
danced out the door,

and away over the garden.

The good couple
saw them no more,

but everything went well with
them from that time forward,

as long as they lived.

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

What a wonderful
story, wasn't it?

Are you ready for
our next story?

Take it from here, Fred.

(lighthearted music)

(steps cluttering)

(grunts)

(lights buzz)

[Narrator] Our next story
is about a little match girl.

On a cold winter night, on
the last night of the year,

it snowed and was nearly
quite dark in the evening.

In this cold and darkness,

a poor little girl
with a threadbare dress

and with naked feet,
trudged through the snow.

Her tiny naked feet were
quite red and blue from cold.

She carried a quantity of
matches in an old apron,

and she held a bundle
of them in her hand.

Nobody had bought anything
from her the whole day,

no one had given
her a single penny.

She crept along trembling
with cold and hunger,

a very picture of sorrow,
the poor little thing.

The flakes of snow covered
her long fair hair,

which fell in beautiful
curls around her neck,

but of that, of course,
she never once now thought.

From all the windows the
candles were gleaming,

and it smelt so
delicious of roast goose,

for it was New Year's Eve,

and the little
girl was so hungry.

She finally seated herself
down and cowered in a corner.

Her little feet she had
drawn close up to her,

but she grew colder and colder,

and to go home she
did not venture,

for she had not sold any matches

and could not bring
a penny of money,

from her father she would
certainly get blows,

and at home it was cold, too,

for above her she
had only the roof,

through which the wind whistled,

even though the largest
cracks were stopped up

with straws and rags.

Her little hands were
almost numbed with cold.

Oh, a match might afford
her a world of comfort,

if she only dared take a
single one out of the bundle,

draw it against the wall,
and warm her fingers by it.

She drew one out and lit it.

Oh, how it blazed, how it burnt!

It was a warm, bright
flame, like a candle,

as she held her hands over it.

It was a wonderful light.

It seemed to the little girl

as though she were sitting
before a large iron stove,

with burnished brass feet
and a brass ornament at top.

The fire warmed her
so delightfully.

The little girl had already
stretched out her feet

to warm them, too,

but the small flame went
out, the stove vanished.

She had only the remains of the
burnt-out match in her hand.

She rubbed another
against the wall.

It b*rned brightly,

and where the light
fell on the wall,

there the wall became
see-through like a veil,

so that she could
see into the room.

On the table was spread
a snow-white tablecloth.

Upon it was a splendid
porcelain service,

and the roast goose was
steaming with its stuffing

of apple and dried plums.

And what was still
more things to behold,

delicious dishes
of fruits and meat,

when the match went out
and nothing but the thick,

cold, damp wall that
was left behind.

She lighted another match.

Now, there she was
sitting under the most

magnificent Christmas tree.

It was still larger,
and more decorated

than the one which she had
seen through the glass door

in the rich merchant's house.

Thousands of lights were
burning on the green branches,

and beautifully-colored
pictures,

such as she had seen
in the shop windows,

looked down upon her.

The little girl stretched
out her hands towards them

when the match went out.

The lights of the Christmas
tree rose higher and higher,

she saw them now
as stars in heaven,

one fell down and formed
a long trail of fire.

"Someone is just dead!"
murmured the little girl,

for her old grandmother, the
only person who had loved her,

and who was now
gone, had told her,

that when a star falls,
a soul ascends to God.

She drew another match
against the wall,

and again, it was light,

and in the brightness, there
stood the old grandmother,

so glowing and radiant,

with such an expression of love.

"Grandmother!" cried
the little one.

"Oh, take me with you!

"Do not go away when
the match burns out,

"do not vanish like
the warm stove,

"like the delicious roast goose,

"and like the magnificent
Christmas tree!"

And she rubbed the
whole bundle of matches

quickly against the wall,

for she wanted to be quite sure

of keeping her
grandmother near her.

And the matches gave
such a brilliant light

that it was brighter
than the sun!

Never she had seen the grandmother
so beautiful and so tall.

She took the little
girl in her arms,

and both flew in
brightness and in joy

so high, so very high,

there was neither cold,
nor hunger, nor anxiety.

They were with God.

But at cold hour of dawn,

sat the poor girl in the corner,

with rosy cheeks and
with a smiling mouth,

leaning against the wall,

frozen to death on the last
evening of the old year.

Stiff and stark sat the
child there with her matches,

of which one bundle
had been burnt.

"She wanted to warm
herself," people said.

But no one knew what
beautiful things she had seen.

No one even dreamed of
the splendor in which,

with her grandmother
she had entered

on the joys of a new year.

What a beautiful story.

I hope you enjoyed this.

Merry Christmas, everybody,

and a happy new year.

(lighthearted holiday music)

♪ Heaven and nature sing

♪ And heaven and nature sing

♪ And heaven, heaven

♪ And nature sing

♪ Joy to the world
the Lord is come

♪ Let earth receive her King

♪ Let every heart

♪ Prepare Him room

♪ And heaven and nature sing

♪ And heaven and nature sing

♪ And heaven, heaven
and nature sing

♪ Joy to the world
♪ Joy to the world

♪ with truth and grace

♪ And makes the nations prove

♪ The glories of
His righteousness

♪ And wonders of His love

♪ And wonders of His love

♪ And wonders, wonders
of His great love

♪ Come on, take it up, kids

♪ Joy to the world
the Lord is come

♪ Let earth receive her King

♪ Let every heart

♪ Prepare Him room

♪ And heaven and nature sing

♪ And heaven and nature sing

♪ And heaven and nature sing

♪ And nature sing

♪ And nature sing

♪ Merry Christmas

♪ From Kpop Kids

(ambient piano music)

♪ Silent night, holy night

♪ All is calm, all is bright

♪ Round yon virgin,
mother and child

♪ Holy infant so tender and mild

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace

♪ Sleep in heavenly peace

♪ Silent night, holy night

♪ Shepherds quake, at the sight

♪ Glories stream
from heaven afar

♪ Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia

♪ Christ the Savior is born

♪ Christ the Savior is born

♪ Silent night, holy night

♪ Wondrous star, lend thy light

♪ With the angels let us sing

♪ Alleluia to our King

♪ Christ the Savior is here

♪ Jesus the Savior is here

♪ Jesus the Savior is here

(lighthearted holiday music)

("Deck the Halls")

(grunting)

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

I hope you've had a great time

listening to these time-honored
Christmas classics.

See you next time!

Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho!

(lighthearted holiday music)