lesser known christmas stories

A lesser - known Christmas animated story is 'The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus' which delves deeper into the origin of Santa Claus. It shows his life from being a foundling to becoming the jolly gift - giver we know today. Another one is 'The Christmas Star'. It tells the story of a little star that wants to be part of the Christmas sky but faces many challenges along the way. There's also 'Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree' which is about a very tall Christmas tree that gets passed down from one creature to another, each taking a part of it to make their own Christmas special.

Some of these stories might have a more somber tone. Unlike the typical jolly and festive Christmas tales, they could explore themes like loneliness or the true meaning of giving in a more poignant way. Take 'The Little Match Girl' for instance. It shows the sad side of Christmas for those in poverty, which is a unique take compared to the usual gift - giving and celebration - focused stories.

There's also 'The Tailor of Gloucester'. In this story, a poor tailor is supposed to finish a waistcoat for the mayor to wear on Christmas Day. But he falls ill and some helpful mice come to his rescue. They sew the beautiful garment for him while he sleeps. It's a charming story that emphasizes kindness and the magic that can happen around Christmas.

There is a legend about the Christmas Spider. In some cultures, it is believed that spiders would spin webs around the Christmas tree. Instead of cleaning them away, people would leave the webs because they were seen as a sign of good luck. It is a unique legend that adds a different aspect to the Christmas decor.

The film's shooting location in Cleveland, Ohio, has some hidden gems related to the movie. There are local stores that sell replicas of items from the movie like the leg lamp. Another little - known thing is that some of the lines in the movie were improvised by the actors. For instance, the 'You'll shoot your eye out!' line has become so iconic, but it was part of the natural flow of the actors' performances.

One lesser - known detail is that the actor who played Ralphie had to practice his 'daydream' expressions a lot. They were crucial for the movie's charm. Another is that the set was decorated with a lot of real vintage items from the 1940s. This made it look really authentic. And, the filming of the famous tongue - on - the - pole scene took a lot of trial and error to get it just right.

The carol 'The Coventry Carol' has a sad story behind it. It is associated with the Massacre of the Innocents in the Bible. It was sung in Coventry, England. The lyrics are poignant and the music has a solemn, yet beautiful quality. It's not as well - known as some other carols but has a deep historical and religious significance.

Then there's 'The Christmas Box' by Richard Paul Evans. This is a touching story about a family who moves into a new home and discovers a box in the attic. It's a story of love, loss, and the true meaning of Christmas. It's not as well - known as some of the classics but is definitely worth reading.

A really interesting lesser - known Batman story is 'Batman: Son of the Demon'. It involves Batman having a son with Talia al Ghul. 'Batman: The Cult' is also great. In this story, Batman has to fight against a cult that has taken over Gotham. And 'Batman: Venom' where Batman gets addicted to a steroid - like substance called Venom and has to deal with the consequences. These stories offer unique takes on the Dark Knight that are not as mainstream as some of the big - name Batman tales.

For one, there was the Church of Scientology's early and more extreme days. While it has since tried to clean up its image, in the past there were reports of very aggressive recruiting and some practices that seemed to border on mind control. Another is the Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God. This cult ended in a mass murder - suicide event. And finally, the Black Hebrews cult. They had some extreme and separatist views that led to a lot of conflict and some rather disturbing situations within their community.