I greatly enjoy Charles Dickens’ books. I can’t claim to have read them all but I have read a few. I inherited this interest from an aunt who was a passionate fan of Dickens and on her death she left me a set of the complete works of Dickens. So I’ve felt duty bound to read my way through them ever since.
One of the most famous of Dickens’ stories is of course “A Christmas Carol”. Even if you haven’t read the book, you will be familiar with it through the numerous films and TV dramatisations over the years. And perhaps you have a favourite version. Maybe the classic version with Alastair Sim from 1951. There is a new Disney version out at present. However, my personal favourite is “A Muppet Christmas Carol” which stars (of course) The Muppets and Michael Caine.
It is surprisingly faithful to the book and Michael Caine is a good Scrooge. It came out originally in 1992 and we discovered it when Tom was about 4. We bought it on video and have since got it on DVD. And it is now part of our family tradition to sit and watch it together at some point in the run up to Christmas.
As you will know, the idea behind A Christmas Carol is for Scrooge (who is a cold hearted money lender) to change after being shown Christmas scenes from the past, the present and the future.
After being shown a glimpse of a future Christmas (which includes seeing his own grave stone) in the book Scrooge says these words:
"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me. I will not shut out the lessons that they teach. Oh, tell me I may sponge away the writing on this stone!"
And Scrooge vows to change his life from that moment on.
So what did Dickens mean by that phrase “I will honour Christmas in my heart?” I feel he meant that Scrooge would adopt the values that the infant Christ brought to our world through his birth. Love for fellow human beings. And not just for Christmas and always.
Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.
Worship we the Godhead,
Love incarnate, love divine;
Worship we our Jesus:
But wherewith for sacred sign?
Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and to all the world,
Love for plea and gift and sign.
Christina Rosetti 1830 - 1894
I wish you a happy and joyous Christmas.
