In A Christmas Carol, Dickens shows us a cross-section ofLondon society, for the very rich to the very poor at the time ofyear when the differences are the most visible. In the story,Christmas is described as the “time, of all others, when Want iskeenly felt, and
Abundance rejoices.” Therich looked forward toresting, feasting andpresents. The workingpoor would haveChristmas day off, if theywere lucky, and mightscrape together a specialmeal. For the very poor,Christmas was justanother day.
The Biblical Story
According to the Christmas Bible story, Christ came downto earth from heaven to be born on Christmas, because of
his love for humanity. Sopeople felt that they shouldshow love for others atChristmas to follow hisexample.
The whole family went to church
on Christmas day.
Family Christmas
The English Christmas was at a low point when Dickens was young.Sometimes national newspapers did not even mention it. There wasonly one day’s vacation, and many people did not even get that. For the
poor, Christmas was not aholiday.
Well-off families, however,would exchange presents,enjoy games and music, andeat special meals withChristmas pudding and gooseor turkey.
The whole family played games at Christmas
Spirit ofChristmas
In 1843, there was an oldcustom of representing the spiritof Christmas by a jolly figurewho brought gifts, food, anddrink. Dickens borrowed fromthis tradition when he made thesecond of the Three Spirits asimilar figure. The spirit ofChristmas was understood, tobe a spirit of love, plenty,friendship, comfort, food, anddrink.
Twelfth Night
The old tradition ofcelebrating Twelfth Night(January 6) as a night offeasting and merrimentbecame part of the festival,as did the “twelfth-cake,”which would often have alucky bean or coin baked intoit. In many places this is thenight when people take downtheir Christmas decorations.
Twelfth Nightcelebrations includedstreet musicians.
Christmas Carols
These songs about the birthof Christ and the religiousmeaning of Christmas grewout of a nonreligioustradition of singing door-to-door at this time of year.Scrooge drives away theyoung carol-singer who sing“God bless you merrygentlemen” to him, showinghow mean he is.
Mistletoe, Holly &Ivy
In ancient times these evergreenswere associated with paganmidwinter celebrations. They weresoon incorporated into theChristian Christmas, and by thetime A Christmas Carol waswritten, mistletoe, holly and ivywere accepted home decorations.Mistletoe on the “kissing bough”was the centerpiece of thedecorations.
Kissing the bough;the apple in themiddle representsplenty.
New ChristmasCustoms
In 1843, many of today’s favoriteChristmas customs had not yetarrived in England. Fifty yearslater, all of the traditions weknow became popular.
Gifts
Christmas gifts were nothing like today’sextravaganza. Many poor children did notreceive gifts.
The children of well-off parentsreceived presents
Cards
Christmas cards were firstprinted in 1843 in England.
Illustration from an early Christmas card.
Trees
The Christmas tree was a traditionin Germany before the 1800’s. Itbecame English tradition whenQueen Victorian made it part ofthe royal Christmas because herhusband was German. After the1840’s many English families hada tree, if they could afford it.
Made in America
The figure of Santa Claus arosefrom stories about SaintNicholas, a saint popular withDutch immigrants to America.His modern image was in 1822,by American poet Clement ClarkMoore’s poem. “The NightBefore Christmas.” Santabecame popular in England inthe 1870’s.