It depends on various factors like the date of publication and the author's copyright status. You might need to check with relevant copyright databases or consult a legal expert to get a definite answer.
It's hard to say for sure. You'd need to check the copyright laws and the specific details of the story's publication history to determine if it's in the public domain.
One way to tell is by checking the copyright date. If it's been a long time since the work was created and the copyright hasn't been renewed, it might be in the public domain.
Most public domain Christmas short stories are suitable for children. Since they are often from an earlier era, they tend to have a more traditional and family - friendly feel. However, it's always a good idea to preview them first, as some may use language or concepts that are a bit old - fashioned but not necessarily inappropriate.
You can start by checking out websites like Project Gutenberg. It has a large collection of public domain works, including many short stories. Just search for'short stories' on their site, and you'll get a whole bunch of options.