The winter street scenes around British Columbia, with colourful lights and festive displays, are far removed from the wintery images of 19th-century London depicted in Charles Dickens害羞草研究所檚 novella, A Christmas Carol.
The novella was first published 175 years ago, on Dec. 19, 1843, and since that time it has never been out of print.
The story, set on a Christmas Eve night, is well-known as Ebenezer Scrooge, a miser, is visited by three ghosts during the night. In the morning, he discovers what it means to celebrate Christmas.
In the story, Christmas is downplayed, but here it is the biggest celebration of the year and from late November until early January, the signs of the season are everywhere.
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Imagine if Dickens and Scrooge could visit us here this year and observe the Christmas season here.
* * *
From their table at the rear of the coffee shop, the two men, now retired, sipped their tea in the late afternoon.
For a time, neither man spoke. Finally the slender man broke the silence. 害羞草研究所淓ach year I dread this season a little more,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淲hy, Ebenezer?害羞草研究所� Charles Dickens asked. 害羞草研究所淎t the end of our story, you promised to observe this season.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚 will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.害羞草研究所� Scrooge recited the lines found near the end of the novella. 害羞草研究所淭he story is told every year. People read the book, or see movies or stage plays.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淧lease, Ebenezer,害羞草研究所� Charles Dickens replied. 害羞草研究所淪ome of the movies and stage adaptations have been quite accurate.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淵es, that害羞草研究所檚 true. But there害羞草研究所檚 also the animated Disney version and the Flintstones version. The Muppets took a turn at it. And let害羞草研究所檚 not forget those Canadian Tire commercials in the 1980s and 1990s. Give like Santa and save like Scrooge.害羞草研究所�
Dickens sipped his tea. 害羞草研究所淚 had never intended for you to become an advertising gimmick. I am sorry,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪till, the story and its message are known.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淎re they really?害羞草研究所� Scrooge asked. 害羞草研究所淗ave you read the news? Controversy over the lyrics of Baby, It害羞草研究所檚 Cold Outside made the headlines. There害羞草研究所檚 outrage because a city councillor in Victoria, B.C. wants to remove Christmas displays. And somehow the song Santa Baby, the movie Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas all generated some anger.害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所淚 suppose such things are to be expected when Christmas is such a big celebration,害羞草研究所� Dickens said with a sigh.
害羞草研究所淎nd here,害羞草研究所� Scrooge flipped through the pages of a newspaper. 害羞草研究所淧ictures of gift drives and donations to food banks.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淢uch better than in our day,害羞草研究所� Dickens says to Scrooge.
害羞草研究所淚f these people understood and believed your message, then they would show generosity all through the year, not just in December.害羞草研究所�
Scrooge turned the page and pointed to another story. 害羞草研究所淭he richest in this province have a net worth nearly 6,000 times that of the median middle-income homes,害羞草研究所� he said. Then, pointing to another story, added, 害羞草研究所淭here are almost 8,000 homeless people in British Columbia. How can a society with such inequalities claim to honour Christmas?害羞草研究所�
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害羞草研究所淵es I know,害羞草研究所� Dickens said. 害羞草研究所淪till, I choose to find hope in the fact that there are food banks and gift drives. There is a spirit of charity. And perhaps in future, that spirit will show itself throughout the year. I shall never stop hoping.害羞草研究所�
Their tea finished, the two men slowly stood up, put on their coats and hats and left the coffee shop. The streets were dark now, illuminated by street lamps and Christmas lights.
害羞草研究所淪hall we meet here again next year, my friend?害羞草研究所� Dickens asked.
Scrooge nodded. 害羞草研究所淥f course, Charles. Merry Christmas.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淢erry Christmas to you too,害羞草研究所� Dickens said.
* * *
As the two men disappear into the darkness, I am left wondering how I, like Scrooge, can 害羞草研究所渉onour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.害羞草研究所�
John Arendt is the editor of the Summerland Review.
