Christmas
A Christmas Carol is centred around Christmas - all the major events happened during the Christmas period - and the story is littered with the kinds of ideas we'd associate with Christianity's biggest celebration: love, charity, forgiveness, family.
A Christmas Carol is centred around Christmas - all the major events happened during the Christmas period - and the story is littered with the kinds of ideas we'd associate with Christianity's biggest celebration: love, charity, forgiveness, family.
It's pages are also full of the kinds of images we'd associate with Christmas - the snowy streets, the turkey, piles of presents, candles and parlour games. But, although the Christmas presented here seems like it's been around forever, Dickens pretty much invented it.
It's pages are also full of the kinds of images we'd associate with Christmas - the snowy streets, the turkey, piles of presents, candles and parlour games. But, although the Christmas presented here seems like it's been around forever, Dickens pretty much invented it.
The key thing that Dickens does in the book is shift the focus from Christ himself and onto to the ideals that he stood for. The book itself only contains two significant direct references to Jesus but the whole thing is dedicated to the ideas that Jesus lived and died to promote: compassion and care for those less fortunate; forgiveness to those who have wronged us; and the dedication to the building of a good life in the hope you can avoid punishment after death.
The key thing that Dickens does in the book is shift the focus from Christ himself and onto to the ideals that he stood for. The book itself only contains two significant direct references to Jesus but the whole thing is dedicated to the ideas that Jesus lived and died to promote: compassion and care for those less fortunate; forgiveness to those who have wronged us; and the dedication to the building of a good life in the hope you can avoid punishment after death.
Despite Dickens's best intentions, however, the book itself has had quite an interesting effect. By focusing on what some people had and other people didn't, Dickens makes the story quite deeply rooted in materialism - there are a LOT of passages that talk about the material luxuries of Christmas: food and gifts, primarily.
Despite Dickens's best intentions, however, the book itself has had quite an interesting effect. By focusing on what some people had and other people didn't, Dickens makes the story quite deeply rooted in materialism - there are a LOT of passages that talk about the material luxuries of Christmas: food and gifts, primarily.
As a result, the new vision of Christmas was also quite deeply rooted in material goods, and the book itself has been criticised from some quarters for encouraging the commericalisation of Christmas - which is the way that Christmas has become a celebration that centres around toys, food, drink, and presents and is no longer about charity, compassion or care for those less fortunate than us.
As a result, the new vision of Christmas was also quite deeply rooted in material goods, and the book itself has been criticised from some quarters for encouraging the commericalisation of Christmas - which is the way that Christmas has become a celebration that centres around toys, food, drink, and presents and is no longer about charity, compassion or care for those less fortunate than us.
The counter argument to this simply reminds us that Dickens's novel is all about charity, compassion and care for those with less than us, and the fact that we've taken this image of Christmas and turned it into a celebration of plastic toys says more about us than it does about Dickens.
The counter argument to this simply reminds us that Dickens's novel is all about charity, compassion and care for those with less than us, and the fact that we've taken this image of Christmas and turned it into a celebration of plastic toys says more about us than it does about Dickens.
Christianity in A Christmas Carol
Christianity in A Christmas Carol
Dickens's A Christmas Carol only contains a two direct references to Jesus - one from Fred at the beginning of the book and another from Tiny Tim later on. While reading on though, it's worth bearing in mind that the words "Jesus" or "Christ" don't ever actually appear in the book; both times Jesus is mentioned he is simply alluded to not spoken of directly.
Dickens's A Christmas Carol only contains a two direct references to Jesus - one from Fred at the beginning of the book and another from Tiny Tim later on. While reading on though, it's worth bearing in mind that the words "Jesus" or "Christ" don't ever actually appear in the book; both times Jesus is mentioned he is simply alluded to not spoken of directly.
During the opening of the book Scrooge's nephew, Fred, arrives to invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner. During his speech about the importance of Christmas, Fred says that Christmas cannot be separated from "the veneration due to its sacred name and origin." By this he means that Christmas cannot be separated from the worship of Christ, who gave it its name (it is literally the Mass for Christ, the name is just a shorter version of Christ's Mass.) This is slightly ironic as Dickens says that the celebration can't be separated from Christ and then writes a book about Christmas which never even mentions him. And what's more, because Dickens's book went on to radically change the way we viewed Christmas, the book probably did more to increase the distance between Christmas and man who it was originally supposed to celebrate than anything else.
During the opening of the book Scrooge's nephew, Fred, arrives to invite Scrooge to Christmas dinner. During his speech about the importance of Christmas, Fred says that Christmas cannot be separated from "the veneration due to its sacred name and origin." By this he means that Christmas cannot be separated from the worship of Christ, who gave it its name (it is literally the Mass for Christ, the name is just a shorter version of Christ's Mass.) This is slightly ironic as Dickens says that the celebration can't be separated from Christ and then writes a book about Christmas which never even mentions him. And what's more, because Dickens's book went on to radically change the way we viewed Christmas, the book probably did more to increase the distance between Christmas and man who it was originally supposed to celebrate than anything else.
Later in the book, Bob is recounting a story about his son, Tiny Tim, and he says: "He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see." This is a really lovely moment where Tim is displaying a kind of gratitude for his disability, because it will help remind people of Jesus on Christmas Day. This really does highlight just what a lovely kid Tiny Tim really is.
Later in the book, Bob is recounting a story about his son, Tiny Tim, and he says: "He told me, coming home, that he hoped the people saw him in the church, because he was a cripple, and it might be pleasant to them to remember upon Christmas Day, who made lame beggars walk, and blind men see." This is a really lovely moment where Tim is displaying a kind of gratitude for his disability, because it will help remind people of Jesus on Christmas Day. This really does highlight just what a lovely kid Tiny Tim really is.
Alongside the Jesus references, however, there is something else that's worth reflecting on when considering the relationship between the story and Christianity: that of judgement after death. In the traditional Christian tradition, people died and were then judged by God as to whether they would go to Heaven or Hell. Dickens completely re-writes this narrative: Marley isn't judged by God and, although his experiences after death aren't pleasant, he isn't living in Hell.
Alongside the Jesus references, however, there is something else that's worth reflecting on when considering the relationship between the story and Christianity: that of judgement after death. In the traditional Christian tradition, people died and were then judged by God as to whether they would go to Heaven or Hell. Dickens completely re-writes this narrative: Marley isn't judged by God and, although his experiences after death aren't pleasant, he isn't living in Hell.
Marley's living in something called purgatory, which is a kind of waiting room souls go to before they move to the "other side." It is interesting though as Dickens also applies certain rules to this space - which, in some ways, is like him re-writing religion, albeit within a piece of fiction. Marley claims that "it is required of every man that the spirit within him walk abroad amongst his fellow men, and if that spirit goes not forth in life it is condemned to do so after death."
Marley's living in something called purgatory, which is a kind of waiting room souls go to before they move to the "other side." It is interesting though as Dickens also applies certain rules to this space - which, in some ways, is like him re-writing religion, albeit within a piece of fiction. Marley claims that "it is required of every man that the spirit within him walk abroad amongst his fellow men, and if that spirit goes not forth in life it is condemned to do so after death."
The crucial question here, from a Christian standpoint, is who requires this - because it's not written in the Bible that God said it - and who condemns them? Because, again, there is no Biblical verse that claims any of this. So although the book does support a lot of Christian ideals, it also challenges them.
The crucial question here, from a Christian standpoint, is who requires this - because it's not written in the Bible that God said it - and who condemns them? Because, again, there is no Biblical verse that claims any of this. So although the book does support a lot of Christian ideals, it also challenges them.
The reasons behind this are probably quite simple: Dickens was a devout Christian, but Victorian society was becoming increasingly secular - which means having no religion. Dickens wanted to promote Christian ideals, but I'm not sure that the book would have been as successful if he'd written it with a stronger focus on Christianity itself.
The reasons behind this are probably quite simple: Dickens was a devout Christian, but Victorian society was becoming increasingly secular - which means having no religion. Dickens wanted to promote Christian ideals, but I'm not sure that the book would have been as successful if he'd written it with a stronger focus on Christianity itself.
The book itself is, however, drenched in the best of Christian ideology and so it is quite ironic that its long term effect was to remove Christ from the Christmas it invented. Sometimes, works of art can have powerful unintended consequences. Not least the way that Christmas Carol's message attacking those who celebrated money inadvertantly turned Christmas into a celebration that is centred around it...
The book itself is, however, drenched in the best of Christian ideology and so it is quite ironic that its long term effect was to remove Christ from the Christmas it invented. Sometimes, works of art can have powerful unintended consequences. Not least the way that Christmas Carol's message attacking those who celebrated money inadvertantly turned Christmas into a celebration that is centred around it...
Money as a Symbol in A Christmas Carol
Money as a Symbol in A Christmas Carol
Dickens's message in the book is quite clear: people with money should be a bit more generous with it! In order to show this he contrasts the lives of rich Vicotorians with their poor counterparts and suggests that the rich should be a little more generous with what they have. The inadvertant consequence of this - which means an accidental effect of it - is that money becomes a key symbol in A Christmas Carol.
Dickens's message in the book is quite clear: people with money should be a bit more generous with it! In order to show this he contrasts the lives of rich Vicotorians with their poor counterparts and suggests that the rich should be a little more generous with what they have. The inadvertant consequence of this - which means an accidental effect of it - is that money becomes a key symbol in A Christmas Carol.
In this book care and compassion often take on a material form: Scrooge gives Cratchit a payrise to show he appreciates him, and sends him a turkey to say sorry; his money is what saves Tiny Tim; he gives cash to the Portly Gentlemen as a show of compassion for the poor; and so much of Scrooge's character - whether as a generous man at the end, or a miser at the beginning - is based around his desire to share his wealth.
In this book care and compassion often take on a material form: Scrooge gives Cratchit a payrise to show he appreciates him, and sends him a turkey to say sorry; his money is what saves Tiny Tim; he gives cash to the Portly Gentlemen as a show of compassion for the poor; and so much of Scrooge's character - whether as a generous man at the end, or a miser at the beginning - is based around his desire to share his wealth.
Though this seems (and is) a very reasonable idea, the emphasis on money as a means of showing care does have a slightly less appealing side-effect.
Though this seems (and is) a very reasonable idea, the emphasis on money as a means of showing care does have a slightly less appealing side-effect.
The book played a really major role in creating the moden Christmas that we know - so much so that the BBC made a documentary about Dickens and called it "The Man Who Invented Christmas." The fact that Dickens's book - which is about being generous with money - helped to shape the modern vision of Christmas goes a long way towards explaining why our modern Christmases are so materialistic.
The book played a really major role in creating the moden Christmas that we know - so much so that the BBC made a documentary about Dickens and called it "The Man Who Invented Christmas." The fact that Dickens's book - which is about being generous with money - helped to shape the modern vision of Christmas goes a long way towards explaining why our modern Christmases are so materialistic.
Throughout the book, images of gift giving and food appear about as often as signs of humanity or compassion that don't cost money. The Ghost of Christmas Present arrives on a pile of food; Fezziwig's party has food and music and gifts; Belle's husband returns home with presents; the Cratchits spend what little money they have on a real Christmas dinner to celebrate.
Throughout the book, images of gift giving and food appear about as often as signs of humanity or compassion that don't cost money. The Ghost of Christmas Present arrives on a pile of food; Fezziwig's party has food and music and gifts; Belle's husband returns home with presents; the Cratchits spend what little money they have on a real Christmas dinner to celebrate.
The idea at the heart of this is that Christmas is a time to celebrate with friends and family, with food and gifts as being a biproduct. But Dickens loved food, and his writing really comes alive when he's losing himself in his descriptions celebrate the joys of material goods.
The idea at the heart of this is that Christmas is a time to celebrate with friends and family, with food and gifts as being a biproduct. But Dickens loved food, and his writing really comes alive when he's losing himself in his descriptions celebrate the joys of material goods.
So although you cannot argue that A Christmas Carol aims to celebrate money over compassion, it did create a certain vision of Christmas that was rooted in the consumption of material goods; and that this vision of Christmas is now dominant. Though we may feel that is has always been this way, the history of Christmas was often very different...
So although you cannot argue that A Christmas Carol aims to celebrate money over compassion, it did create a certain vision of Christmas that was rooted in the consumption of material goods; and that this vision of Christmas is now dominant. Though we may feel that is has always been this way, the history of Christmas was often very different...
The Short History of Christmas
The Short History of Christmas
The 25th of December has always featured some kind of celebration in Europe, for one key reason: It's right in the middle of winter, and from then on the nights start getting shorter.
The 25th of December has always featured some kind of celebration in Europe, for one key reason: It's right in the middle of winter, and from then on the nights start getting shorter.
The Romans celebrate the 25th of December as Saturnalia. Saturn was their God of the sun, and the 25th was the day when he was re-born and the days started becoming longer again. The Celts - their religion is sometimes refered to as Paganism - celebrated Yule for the same reason.
The Romans celebrate the 25th of December as Saturnalia. Saturn was their God of the sun, and the 25th was the day when he was re-born and the days started becoming longer again. The Celts - their religion is sometimes refered to as Paganism - celebrated Yule for the same reason.
During the 6th Century the Pope declared that the 25th of December was the birthday of Christ and started to celebrate Christ's Mass on the same day. There is interest in the fact that the Romans and Celts celebrated the re-birth of the sun on the 25th, while Christianity used it to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who is sometimes refered to as the Son but I just find that a bit mind-bending to be honest...
During the 6th Century the Pope declared that the 25th of December was the birthday of Christ and started to celebrate Christ's Mass on the same day. There is interest in the fact that the Romans and Celts celebrated the re-birth of the sun on the 25th, while Christianity used it to celebrate the birth of Jesus, who is sometimes refered to as the Son but I just find that a bit mind-bending to be honest...
During Medieval times, Christmas was a solumn and serious affair. It was venerated, and respected, but not entirely celebrated. The rich looked after the poor, laying out dinner for them and even, in some cases, serving them.
During Medieval times, Christmas was a solumn and serious affair. It was venerated, and respected, but not entirely celebrated. The rich looked after the poor, laying out dinner for them and even, in some cases, serving them.
Then, in 1647, Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, banned Christmas and for a long time the day was hardly celebrated at all. Jane Austen wrote a letter to her sister on Christmas Eve in 1798 and didn't even mention the significance of the date.
Then, in 1647, Oliver Cromwell, a Puritan, banned Christmas and for a long time the day was hardly celebrated at all. Jane Austen wrote a letter to her sister on Christmas Eve in 1798 and didn't even mention the significance of the date.
During Victoria's reign, however, as the country was becoming wealthy from the spoils of Empire, the new rich wanted something to look forward to during the long, cold winters. As a result, Victoria began encouraging Christmas celebrations again at about the same time that Dickens's book arrived. The two worked together to create the celebration we know today.
During Victoria's reign, however, as the country was becoming wealthy from the spoils of Empire, the new rich wanted something to look forward to during the long, cold winters. As a result, Victoria began encouraging Christmas celebrations again at about the same time that Dickens's book arrived. The two worked together to create the celebration we know today.
The most significant difference between the modern Christmas and previous ones was the shift in focus away from Christ and towards consumption. Though the 1900s were a reletively religious time, most Victorians weren't big believers; their focus was increasingly scientific and moral questions were being dealt with by philosophers, politicians or economists rather than priests.
The most significant difference between the modern Christmas and previous ones was the shift in focus away from Christ and towards consumption. Though the 1900s were a reletively religious time, most Victorians weren't big believers; their focus was increasingly scientific and moral questions were being dealt with by philosophers, politicians or economists rather than priests.
As a result, Dickens's Christmas - and the Christmas we know today - tends to be more about family, friends, food and presents than any veneration of Jesus or his teachings. As I mentioned before, there is a certain irony in the fact that Dickens's book, which is so drenched in Christian ethics, possibly did more to move Christmas away from being a religious celebration than anything else.
As a result, Dickens's Christmas - and the Christmas we know today - tends to be more about family, friends, food and presents than any veneration of Jesus or his teachings. As I mentioned before, there is a certain irony in the fact that Dickens's book, which is so drenched in Christian ethics, possibly did more to move Christmas away from being a religious celebration than anything else.
