The Night Before Christmas

Nikolai Gogol,
Constance Garnett

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humorous and magical events

devil and witch characters

vivid descriptions and witty dialogues

ukrainian village setting

blend of folk tale and fairy tale

christmas eve atmosphere

whimsical characters

madcap and ribald writing style

blacksmith's quest for love

vanity and jealousy

cultural folklore elements

playful storytelling

fast paced narrative

adult themes in storytelling

'The Night Before Christmas' by Nikolai Gogol is a humorous and fantastical tale set on Christmas Eve, featuring a devil, a witch, a vain beautiful girl, a devout blacksmith, love, jealousy, and revenge. The story revolves around the devil's attempt to thwart the blacksmith's efforts to court the village beauty, Oksana, who is known for her vanity and mistreatment of suitors. Despite the unconventional Christmas content, the narrative is charming, filled with whimsical characters, humorous situations, and a touch of magic, making it a delightful departure from traditional Christmas tales.

Gogol's writing style in 'The Night Before Christmas' is described as madcap, magical, and almost ribald, drawing inspiration from Ukrainian folktales. The author creates a remote village setting where carolers sing on a cold Christmas Eve, adding to the whimsical and festive atmosphere of the story. Through witty dialogues, vivid descriptions, and a mix of humor and fantasy, Gogol weaves a captivating narrative that captures the essence of a folk tale while incorporating adult themes and playful storytelling elements.

Characters:

Characters include a desperate blacksmith, a vain woman, and a devilish witch, contributing to the story's humor and charm.

Writing/Prose:

The prose combines humor, magical realism, and whimsy, deeply rooted in Ukrainian folklore.

Plot/Storyline:

The story revolves around a series of humorous and magical events centered on a devil, a witch, and a blacksmith's quest for love.

Setting:

The setting features a vibrant Ukrainian village during Christmas Eve, rich in cultural and folkloric elements.

Pacing:

The narrative unfolds at a lively pace, blending humor and tension in an engaging manner.

THE DAY OF CHRISTMAS EVE ENDED, AND the night began, cold and clear. The stars and the crescent moon shone brightly upon the Christian world, helping all the good folks welcome the birth of our Savior...

Notes:

The story features a mix of supernatural elements like a witch and a devil, providing a contrast to more traditional Christmas tales.

It draws inspiration from Ukrainian folktales and is still read to children in Ukraine and Russia on Christmas Eve.

The illustrations in the edition mentioned are mostly by Konstantin Makovsky, a 19th-century artist, adding charm to the story.

Gogol's narrative includes wink-wink adult references, contrasting with Dickens's more chaste moral tales.

The main character, Vakula, is a blacksmith who goes to extraordinary lengths to win the affection of the beautiful but vain Oksana.

Humor plays a significant role in Gogol's tale, with amusing scenarios including a witch hiding suitors in sacks.

The story's setting is a rural village filled with lively characters, including jealous suitors and comedic townsfolk.

The plot includes elements of mischief and magical escapades that make it a unique Christmas story.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include themes of jealousy, revenge, and the supernatural, which may not be suitable for all children.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance, primarily revolving around the complexities of love between Vakula and Oksana.

From The Publisher:

One snowy night, Solokha, a witch, steals the stars and the Devil takes the moon, leaving the townspeople of Dikanka in pitch darkness. The Devil has orchestrated this because he is upset with the town blacksmith, Vakula, who paints religious pictures as a pastime.

A beautiful but very vain girl, Oksana, is the focus of young men of the village. Solokha is in league with the Devil to cause mischief in the lives of Vakula and Choub, Oksana's father. Solokha, wants to marry Oksana's wealthy widowed father.

She does not want her son to marry Oksana and gain Choub's wealth. The Devil wants to cause hate between Vakula and Choub so that Choub will beat Vakula who would then be unable to paint religious pictures.

Later the moon slips back out of the Devil's pocket and restores...

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