Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year sprinkled with a little magic. This season only comes once a year—yet is a timeless inspiration for writers old and new.

So to sum up this merry and bright day we’ve gone into the snowy literary forest and uncovered some of our favorite quotes…

“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmastime.”

– Laura Ingalls Wilder, Prairie Wisdom

“This is quite the season indeed for friendly meetings. At Christmas, everybody invites their friends about them, and people think little of even the worst weather. I was snowed up at a friend’s house once for a week. Nothing could be pleasanter.”

– Jane Austen, Emma

“It being Christmas Eve, there was, as I had foreseen, a great deal of revelry and whatnot.”

– P.G. Wodehouse, Jeeves and the Yule-tide Spirit

“Christmas! ‘Tis the season for kindling the fire of hospitality in the hall, the genial flame of charity in the heart.”

– Washington Irving

“I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.”

– Maya Angelou

“The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.”

– Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

“The week before Christmas, when snow seemed to lie thickest, was the moment for carol-singing; and when I think back to those nights it is to the crunch of snow and to the lights of the lanterns on it”

– Laurie Lee, Cider With Rosie