Charles Dickens’ Christmas London

Dear friends of Training Centre ‘Raya’ London,

End-of-year celebrations are knocking at the door, bringing moments of joy and brightness. Let’s embrace the Christmas spirit and learn more about this celebration, as well as some new vocabulary connected with it! You can switch to the English version of our blog to enhance your learning experience.

On December 19th, 1843 (181 years ago), Charles Dickens published his well-known novel A Christmas Carol. It tells the story of a miser named Ebenezer Scrooge, who keeps his one and only subordinate, young Bob Cratchit, in misery, piling up loads of work for him right on Christmas Day. Dickens not only narrates Scrooge’s deeds but also presents two London families – the poor Cratchits and the family of his nephew Fred, who is a jolly fellow, embodying the Christmas spirit.

Through reading Charles Dickens’ novel, we gain insight into 19th-century London, during the dawn of the Industrial Revolution. This era saw newly developed machinery boosting production in towns, which in turn led to pollution and the contamination of workers and townspeople. In Dickens’ time, London was filthy, crowded, and full of poor working people whose lives starkly contrasted with their wealthy employers. The thick London fog described in Dickens’ works was actually smog from factories. Diseases were rampant among laborers, and there was rarely money for medical care. While some citizens celebrated in coziness, wealth, and warmth, others struggled to make ends meet, covering expenses for food and gifts.

Despite the surrounding poverty, banker Scrooge had the opportunity to celebrate lavishly and even donate to the poor. Yet, he chose not to. Instead, he responded to his nephew’s joyful greetings with: “What’s Christmas time to you but a time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer?” When a few gentlemen concerned about the poor requested donations, he retorted: “I don’t make merry myself at Christmas, and I can’t afford to make idle people merry!” Whenever someone wished him a ‘Merry Christmas!’, Uncle Scrooge would reply with a curt ‘Have a nice afternoon!’.

In the 19th century, the Medieval tradition of grand Christmas celebrations, dating back to Shakespearean times, was halted in London due to the influence of religious Puritans. However, this tradition later regained its essence, and society once again welcomed splendid decorations, great amounts of delicious food, and drinks typical for the day. Dickens’ novel convinced both Londoners and foreign readers that generosity is the core of Christmas, along with the necessity of brilliance, extravagance, and joy. Through Mr. Scrooge’s transformation from stinginess, Dickens suggests that while people should work hard to live a proper life, celebrations give us the opportunity to help others, be happy, and delight in the season.

Not only does Dickens’ A Christmas Carol follow Christmas traditions, but it also shapes them. It is no accident that the story is represented by numerous illustrations, movies, and musical performances, which we enjoy at this time of the year. So, dear friends, may you also let Christmas magic into your homes!

Author: Iveta Radeva