The spirits of Christmas
WHEN Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843, he couldn’t have foretold that, for many, his book would become as much a defining part of Christmas as Brussels sprouts, trees and crackers.
The story centres around miserable skinflint Ebenezer Scrooge, to whom Christmas means nothing. He even begrudges giving his long-suffering employee, Bob Cratchit, the day off on December 25.
He growls at those who collect money for the poor and lives alone in a cold, dark townhouse. He even refuses to have Christmas dinner with his nephew – he would rather spend the day counting his mountain of gold coins.
But when Scrooge is visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve, he is told he must change his miserly ways... or meet a lonely end.
Published on December 19, 1843, Dickens’ tale of Christmas was an instant success selling 6,000 copies by Christmas. The phrases “Merry Christmas” and “Bah Humbug” became popular as a result.
A Christmas Carol has been adapted many times for the silver screen, with Scrooge being played by such greats as George C Scott, Alastair Simm and Michael Caine. Bob Cratchit was portrayed by Mickey Mouse in Mickey’s Christmas Carol and later Kermit the Frog in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
In Victorian times, Scrooge wasn’t the only one seeing seasonal spirits – ghostly tales were an ever-present part of festive entertainment.
Spooky stories come into their own during the long winter evenings, and famous fictional chillers, from Frankenstein to The Turn Of The Screw, have all opted for a traditional Christmas setting.
The stories say, if you are good, Christmas is a heart-warming time filled with laughter and joy.
If you are on the naughty list however, things can get ugly pretty quickly (just ask Scrooge).
We might get threatened with lumps of coal in our stockings but that’s nothing compared to one old Eastern European tradition.
According to folklore, a creature called Krampus was in charge of the naughty list.
Usually portrayed as a hairy, horned goat-demon, this bad Santa’s punishments ranged from a simple lump of coal right up to eternal damnation.
Now, about that messy bedroom…