Christmas of U.K. Olde does not get better than Dylan Thomas’s “A Child’s Christmas in Wales”, when experienced on Christmas eve or Christmas Day. Dylan Thomas Reading (which features the classic story read by Thomas himself) was the first album Thomas recorded for the two bold women who founded Caedmon Records; this was the label’s first release in 1952.
The special blue booklet of the story with woodcut illustrations by Ellen Raskin (New Directions, 1954, reissued since in a matching blue envelope) has long been another Christmas staple, too. Later came the excellent 1988 movie adaptation (Hen’s Tooth/Alliance Atlantis) of the story starring the great Denholm Elliott as the grandfather. All are very highly recommended reading, listening, and viewing.