The White Christmas and Other Merry Christmas Plays

A collection of early 20th century Christmas plays that blends the sacred and the sentimental. The title play, "The White Christmas," reimagines the nativity on a cold Bethlehem night, following Joseph as he searches for shelter for the pregnant Mary, encountering shepherds and townsfolk along the way. Hare also ventures into immigrant experience with "Anita's Secret," the story of a young Italian girl discovering the magic of Santa Claus. These plays were written for performance, particularly by children, and carry the earnest warmth and moral clarity of their era. The language may feel dated to modern ears, but the underlying impulses generosity, community, the stranger welcomed at the door feel contemporary. Whether you approach this as historical artifact or as source material for holiday pageantry, the collection offers a window into how Americans once staged their Christmas joy.