On Christmas Eve 1897, two siblings, young gold prospectors in Klondike, are preparing for the festive table. Their supplies are scarce and the dinner is expected to be meager. However, a surprise awaits them: one after another, unexpected visitors knock on the door of their cabin and offer what each one has, until the modest dinner magically turns into a feast, in an atmosphere of warmth, as befits the most beautiful night of the year.

In contrast to most of Jack London's works that unfold in the Arctic North, the short story "Christmas in Klondike" tells a tender story of companionship, written with elegance and subtle humor. The joyful atmosphere, the good-hearted characters, and the subtly nostalgic tone bring to mind something of the festive storytelling of Alexandros Papadiamantis.

The short story was written in 1898 and remained unpublished during the author's lifetime. It was discovered in his remains and first published in 1976 in the magazine Boys' Life.