From a commercial point of view, if Christmas did not exist it would be necessary to invent it.
—Katharine Whitehorn (b.1928) English Journalist, Writer, Columnist
A lovely thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, and we all go through it together.
—Garrison Keillor (b.1942) American Author, Humorist, Radio Personality
Love came down at Christmas;
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Stars and angels gave the sign.
—Christina Rossetti (1830–94) English Poet, Hymn Writer
When Christmas bells are swinging above the fields of snow,
We hear sweet voices ringing from lands of long ago,
And etched on vacant places
Are half-forgotten faces
Of friends we used to cherish, and loves we used to know.
—Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850–1919) American Poet, Journalist
Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.
—Hamilton Wright Mabie (1846–1916) American Essayist, Editor
Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days, that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth, and transport the sailor and the traveler, thousands of miles away, back to his own fireside and his quiet home!
—Charles Dickens (1812–70) English Novelist
Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.
—Calvin Coolidge (1872–1933) American Head of State, Lawyer
So stick up ivy and the bays, and then restore the heathen ways, green will remind you of the Spring, though this great day denies the thing, and mortifies the earth, and all, but your wild revels, and loose hall.
—Henry Vaughan (1621–95) Anglo-Welsh Metaphysical Poet
Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive
—Stephen Fry (b.1957) English Actor, Writer, Director, Broadcaster
Please to put a nickel, please to put a dime. How petitions trickle in at Christmas time!
—Phyllis McGinley (1905–78) American Children’s Books Writer, Poet, Writer of Children’s Books
Were it not for the shepherds, there would have been no reception. And were it not for a group of stargazers, there would have been no gifts.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a family all wrapped up in each other.
—Burton Hillis (William E. Vaughan) (1915–77) American Columnist, Author
Off to one side sits a group of shepherds. They sit silently on the floor, perhaps perplexed, perhaps in awe, no doubt in amazement. Their night watch had been interrupted by an explosion of light from heaven and a symphony of angels. God goes to those who have time to hear him–and so on this cloudless night he went to simple shepherds.
—Max Lucado (b.1955) American Christian Author, Minister
Christmas is doing a little something extra for someone.
—Charles M. Schulz (1922–2000) American Cartoonist, Writer, Artist
Christmas is a time when everybody wants his past forgotten and his present remembered. What I don’t like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day.
—Phyllis Diller (b.1917) American Actor, Comedian
Christmas is not in tinsel and lights and outward show.
The secret lies in an inner glow.
It’s lighting a fire inside the heart.
Good will and joy a vital part.
It’s higher thought and a greater plan.
It’s glorious dream in the soul of man.
—Wilferd Arlan Peterson (1900–95) American Author
Christmas doesn’t come from a store, maybe Christmas perhaps means a little bit more …
—Theodor Seuss Geisel (‘Dr. Seuss’) (1904–91) American Children’s Books Writer, Writer, Cartoonist, Animator