Ah, Christmas. The most wonderful time of the year—and the most overexploited in literature and film. From Dickens’ heartwarming A Christmas Carol to the Hallmark Channel’s industrial-scale production of small-town love stories, Christmas has inspired countless tales.

Some make us cry tears of joy; others make us cry because we’ve wasted two hours of our lives. But for every It’s a Wonderful Life, there’s a hidden gem or hilariously absurd holiday story waiting to be unearthed. Today, we’re diving into the lesser-known, the offbeat, and the occasionally baffling Christmas tales that range from heartfelt to downright ridiculous. Grab some eggnog (or something stronger); this is going to be fun.

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The Warm and Fuzzy: The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus

Written by none other than The Wizard of Oz creator L. Frank Baum, this tale reimagines Santa as an orphan raised by fairies and forest creatures who fights to bring toys to children despite the evildoings of the Awgwas (basically, anti-Santa gremlins). Think of it as Lord of the Rings meets the North Pole. It’s a whimsical and heartfelt origin story that gives Santa Claus a mythos rivaling any superhero. It’s sweet, magical, and just weird enough to work.

The “Wait, What?” Factor: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians

Let’s move to the opposite end of the spectrum, where Christmas joy collides with intergalactic absurdity. This 1964 sci-fi film follows a group of Martians who kidnap Santa Claus because—wait for it—Martian kids are sad and need holiday cheer. Complete with budget costumes, questionable acting, and a plotline that feels like it was written after one too many spiked eggnogs, it’s a cult classic for all the wrong reasons. It’s ridiculous, yes, but it also proves that even Martians want a slice of that Christmas spirit.

The Twisted Classic: The Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

In Pratchett’s Discworld universe, the Hogfather (basically Santa in pig form) goes missing, and Death—yes, the skeletal embodiment of mortality—steps in to deliver presents. It’s equal parts satire and heartfelt homage to holiday traditions, exploring themes of belief, wonder, and why we even bother with holidays in the first place. If you’ve ever wanted to see Death in a Santa suit trying to wrangle children, this is your perfect Christmas read.

The Post-Apocalyptic Noel: A Gift of the Magi on Mars

While technically a short story featured in various science fiction anthologies, this futuristic spin on O. Henry’s classic tale takes the themes of love and sacrifice to space. Instead of combs and a watch chain, the gifts involve oxygen supplies and gravity modulators—because nothing says “romantic sacrifice” like not suffocating in the Martian atmosphere. It’s oddly touching and proves that the Christmas spirit can survive even on a barren red planet.

The Laughably Bizarre: Jack Frost (1997) and Jack Frost (1998)

Two films. Same name. Completely different vibes. The 1997 Jack Frost is a horror-comedy about a mutant killer snowman. It’s as bad—and as hilarious—as it sounds. Then there’s the 1998 Jack Frost, where Michael Keaton plays a dad reincarnated as a snowman. Heartwarming? Sure. But also deeply unsettling if you think too hard about sentient snowmen. Whether you prefer your Jack Frost festive or murderous, these films are a testament to how far people will stretch Christmas lore.

The Seriously Underrated: Christmas on Ganymede

This little-known short story by Isaac Asimov brings the holidays to a Jovian moon. A corporate worker on Ganymede is tasked with explaining Christmas to alien laborers who misunderstand the concept and demand their own Santa. What follows is a mix of Asimovian wit and slapstick hilarity. The story is a playful reminder of how universal the holiday spirit can be—even when aliens are involved.

Where does Christmas go from here?

Christmas, with its promise of joy, redemption, and general chaos, will always inspire storytellers. From the coziness of Santa Claus lore to the lunacy of killer snowmen, the holiday holds endless possibilities for creativity. As technology evolves and humanity continues to dream, who knows what new and bizarre holiday tales will emerge? Whether it’s a cyberpunk Santa hacking into the metaverse or a wormhole that delivers the perfect Christmas gift, one thing’s for sure—Christmas will keep sparking our imaginations for generations to come.

About Leif J. Erickson

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page