When pondering the essence of Christmas, it’s impossible not to think of Charles Dickens, whose influence significantly elevated the holiday’s visibility, particularly through his 1843 novella, “A Christmas Carol.”
This narrative chronicles the transformation of the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge, who learns the value of charity following encounters with spectral visitors. It played a pivotal role in revitalizing Christmas celebrations in Victorian society, a time when the festivities were waning.
Long before penning the novella, Dickens and his family were enthusiastic celebrants of the holiday spirit. Today, visitors can experience a slice of “Christmas past” by touring the author’s former residence, which has been styled to reflect the Victorian festive traditions.
Though Dickens did not compose “A Christmas Carol” at 48 Doughty Street—near King’s Cross—this was the residence where he completed “The Pickwick Papers” and crafted “Nicholas Nickleby” and his most renowned work, “Oliver Twist.”
The Dickens household occupied the property from 1837 to 1839, and it has since been transformed into the Dickens Museum, which is currently celebrating its hundredth year.
Emma Harper, the museum’s deputy director, noted, “Dickens had a profound affection for Christmas. He adored gatherings, which was an integral part of the holiday.
“He relished in feasting and engaging in games with friends and family. However, he was deeply troubled by the underlying principle of Christmas—charity—which inspired him to write “A Christmas Carol.”
The novella’s widespread acclaim helped solidify enduring traditions surrounding Christmas, such as family reunions, festive meals, merrymaking, and a spirit of generosity.
Ms. Harper also highlighted how much of Dickens’s literary work responded to the social conditions of Victorian England. He spent considerable time writing in Kent, having moved to Chatham at the age of five.
He wrote “A Christmas Carol” as a critique of the newly enacted poor laws that he believed would exacerbate the suffering of society’s most vulnerable members.
“He aimed to encourage a sense of collective responsibility for one another,” she elaborated. Scrooge’s journey towards redemption emphasizes the importance of giving during the Christmas season and aiding one’s neighbor. Ms. Harper encapsulated Dickens’s sentiments about this festive time with a quote from “A Christmas Carol”:
“A good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely…”
