“The little fir tree is cold in winter” story by Alexey Solonitsyn in context of Christmas prose tradition

The article reviews "The Little Fir Tree is Cold in Winter" story by Alexey Solonitsyn, taking into account its genre specifics. Written in the 21th century, the story goes back to the classic examples of Christmas prose of the 19th and 20th centuries, a characteristic feature of which is canonicity. The story by Alexey Solonitsyn retains a number of attributive features of the genre: the image of a child in difficult situation, the unfolding of the action during one night, the introduction of a miracle into the narrative. The story’s plot is interpreted at the everyday and existential levels, which actualize its social and spiritual problems. The tragic climax (the death of a child, the departure from earthly life) serves to express the author's thoughts about the crisis of mercy and the rejection of the Christian commandments, which is harmful for the spiritual and moral life of modern society.